The only people that can make peace are the parties to the

In the words of Martti Ahtisaari, "The only people that can make peace are the parties to the conflict, and just as they are responsible for the conflict and its consequences, so should they be given responsibility and recognition for the peace." These words speak with the wisdom of the ages, reminding us of a fundamental truth in the quest for peace: true peace can only come from within the conflict itself, from the people who are most directly involved. To end a conflict, one must not only address its external causes but recognize that responsibility for peace lies with those who have experienced the conflict firsthand. Ahtisaari, a renowned peace negotiator, reminds us that those who have suffered the consequences of war are the very ones who must take ownership of its resolution, for peace cannot be imposed from the outside but must grow from a place of shared understanding and mutual recognition.

This idea of responsibility for peace being tied to the parties of the conflict has deep roots in ancient thought. In Ancient Greece, the great philosopher Plato spoke of the necessity of self-governance and self-awareness in the pursuit of peace. For Plato, true peace in the state could only be achieved when each individual and group within that state acknowledged their role in both the problem and the solution. The ideal state, as described in his work The Republic, was one where the people did not rely on an external force for peace, but understood that peace required each citizen’s commitment to justice and harmony. Similarly, Ahtisaari’s words reflect that peace is not a gift bestowed upon one side by the other, but a responsibility shared by those who have lived through the turmoil.

Consider the example of Nelson Mandela and his role in ending apartheid in South Africa. Mandela, after years of imprisonment, did not seek vengeance against the architects of the apartheid regime, nor did he call for the nation’s wounds to be healed by an external power. Instead, he sought to empower the people—both black and white—to take responsibility for the reconciliation of their country. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which he supported, was an embodiment of Ahtisaari’s wisdom: it was not a foreign power, nor was it a single leader, who brought peace to South Africa. It was the people themselves—both the victims and the perpetrators of apartheid—who, through shared responsibility and mutual recognition, laid the foundations for a new South Africa.

In the ancient Roman Republic, Cicero spoke of the necessity for all people to contribute to the common good, recognizing that peace in society could only be achieved when every individual understood their role in maintaining harmony. Cicero’s notion of civic duty is not unlike Ahtisaari’s idea that the parties to a conflict must take responsibility for their own peace. In both Cicero’s vision and Ahtisaari’s wisdom, the road to peace is not a passive one but requires active engagement from those involved in the conflict. It is a lesson that underscores the ancient belief that responsibility and ownership of one’s actions are critical in building a just and lasting peace.

Ahtisaari’s idea that those involved in the conflict should also be responsible for the peace offers a powerful counterpoint to the idea that peace is a gift that can be delivered from the outside. When leaders or mediators intervene in conflicts, they must recognize that their role is not to impose solutions, but to guide the parties involved toward mutual understanding. Without the participation of those directly affected by the conflict, no lasting peace can be achieved. This is especially true in modern-day conflicts, such as those in the Middle East or in parts of Africa, where external interventions have often failed to create lasting peace because they did not sufficiently engage the local communities in the process of reconciliation. Ahtisaari’s wisdom reminds us that peace must be earned by those who have lived the consequences of war.

The lesson we can draw from Ahtisaari’s words is both simple and profound: true peace is a shared responsibility. It cannot be achieved by external forces alone, nor can it be left to those in power to decide for everyone. If we are to live in a world where peace is the norm, each of us must be willing to acknowledge our role in both the creation and the solution of conflict. This is not limited to the grand political stage; it applies in our personal relationships, in our communities, and in the broader world. When conflicts arise, we must first look inward, asking what we can do to contribute to peace and how we can work together with others to build a lasting and just resolution.

In practical terms, this means that when we are faced with conflict—whether personal, professional, or political—we must ask ourselves how we can take responsibility for our part in the situation and how we can engage others in the process of resolution. It calls for active listening, empathy, and a willingness to recognize the humanity of those we are in conflict with. The process of building peace may require patience and compromise, but it is through this collective effort that true and lasting peace is forged. By embracing our role in the resolution of conflict, we not only create peace for ourselves but contribute to the peace of the world around us. Let us, therefore, follow Ahtisaari’s wisdom and understand that peace is not something given to us; it is something we must build, together, with those we are in conflict with.