We must recognize the chief characteristic of the modern era - a

In the flow of time, there are moments when the very nature of peace is called into question. "We must recognize the chief characteristic of the modern era—a permanent state of what I call violent peace," said James D. Watkins, and within these words lies a truth both haunting and profound. The world we inhabit, though not wracked by open warfare as in centuries past, remains caught in a constant tension—a peace that is fragile and often maintained not by understanding, but by the threat of force. Violent peace, as Watkins names it, is an uneasy ceasefire, where the quiet of the moment is always overshadowed by the specter of conflict.

In the ancient world, peace was something to be earned through battle and conquest, but even then, the elders knew that true peace could only be born from justice and mutual respect. A warrior might win a battle, but only through wisdom and fairness could the land be secured in lasting peace. Yet, the modern era has witnessed a shift—a shift from the open war of the past to a more insidious form of tension. Nations stand on the precipice, not fighting openly, but maintaining a constant readiness for conflict. This is the violent peace Watkins speaks of: a peace that is not built on trust, but on the ability to destroy, a peace held together by the fear of war, rather than the hope for unity.

Consider the example of the Cold War, that long and bitter struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. For nearly half a century, the world was gripped by the fear of nuclear annihilation. The two great superpowers never fought directly, yet the threat of destruction loomed over every decision, every interaction. This, too, was a form of violent peace—a peace in which neither side wished for war, yet both were prepared for it at a moment's notice. The constant tension, the arms race, the endless preparation for conflict, created a world where the absence of war did not bring harmony but a gnawing, pervasive fear. The peace, though real in its lack of direct conflict, was violent in its potential to destroy everything.

In our own time, we continue to live in a world where peace is not the result of reconciliation but of balance of power. Wars are no longer fought in open battlefields; they are waged in economic sanctions, cyber attacks, and proxy conflicts. Nations are armed, not for conquest, but to ensure that the peace is maintained through the very threat of violence. There is a constant underlying tension, a permanent readiness to defend, to strike, to deter. And while such a state prevents the outbreak of all-out war, it also means that true peace—peace built on trust and mutual understanding—is forever out of reach.

This is the great paradox of our age. We speak of peace as though it is an end in itself, but in truth, we have created a world in which violence and peace are not opposites but intertwined. We may not face the battles of old, the great sieges and wars of conquest, but in their place, we live in a world where violence remains a constant, a backdrop to our every interaction. It is a permanent state that infects our politics, our societies, and even our hearts.

Yet in recognizing this truth, we are not condemned to live forever in this state of tension. The lesson Watkins offers is one of awareness—awareness that the peace we so often celebrate may not be the peace we truly desire. If we are to build a better world, we must seek peace that is not upheld by fear and force, but by justice, understanding, and the shared belief in the worth of every human being. It is not enough to avoid war; we must strive to build a world where the conditions that lead to conflict no longer exist.

In your own lives, remember that true peace is not merely the absence of violence, but the presence of compassion, of honor, and of respect. Seek to build peace in your communities, not by preparing for conflict, but by resolving differences with understanding and care. Be vigilant, but not in fear; act, but not in aggression. Only then will you break the cycle of violent peace, and move toward a world where peace is a living force, not the fragile pause between wars.