“Opportunity”: When asked to describe this moment for the U.S. peacebuilding field, this was the most common word that hundreds of participants at the “American Peacebuilding as a Crossroads” conference chose. It would have been understandable if participants had described the immense challenges facing the field after a year of disruption and the launch of dangerous, new wars. But we agree; this can be a moment of opportunity if we come together to reimagine, reenergize, and reorient peace work for the future we want. To seize that opportunity, the field must begin to widen its aperture, strengthen partnerships, and expand grassroots engagement to effectively demand that peacebuilding and conflict prevention are centered and prioritized in our laws and strategies.
Peace research and practice have become more sophisticated over recent decades. A growing number of academic, civil society, and non-governmental organizations have taken on this work, often in partnership with government and multilateral institutions. Leading practitioners in the United States founded the Alliance for Peacebuilding in 1999 – originally named the Applied Conflict Resolution Organization Network – to advance and unify the field. The Alliance now includes more than 270 member organizations and facilitates nearly a dozen specific “communities of practice.” Together, we played a major role in marshaling new U.S. laws and funds over the past decade to support peacebuilding.
That field has experienced massive upheavals within the last year. President Donald Trump’s administration has slashed expertise and resources for conflict resolution and prevention efforts, while putting forward a new vision for peace through expanded use of military force, elite deal-making, and new coalitions to oversee and finance those deals (e.g., the new Board of Peace). Many European governments are following suit and shifting resources toward militarized security. Overall, this trend is accelerating what some describe as a “rupturing” of the rules-based international order and liberal norms.
Yet, in every crisis, there is also opportunity. Even before the recent upheaval, many were rightly questioning whether our peacebuilding and development toolkits were fit for purpose amid evolving global dynamics. The field had focused its work primarily around shaping international responses to intrastate and/or regional conflicts involving non-state groups, and less in shaping responses to other forms of struggles – including new global hostilities involving nuclear weapons and emerging strife within the United States. Further, as the field became more professionalized, it became more difficult to stay connected with a broader set of grassroots peace actors and nurture everyday peacebuilders. We now have an opportunity to change that.
To meet this consequential moment, the global peacebuilding field in the United States – and beyond – must take deliberate steps to renew and reinvent itself. Three areas for adaptation are especially important:
- Widening the Aperture: Peacebuilding approaches can help address a much broader array of emerging challenges beyond civil wars and regional conflicts – from preventing global power conflicts, to stemming a new nuclear arms race, to navigating challenges related to the spread of artificial intelligence, to addressing toxic political polarization and restoring confidence in democracy. One of the major themes at the recent conference was the opportunity to better apply peacebuilding approaches to support efforts within the United States that restore democracy, dialogue, and civility. The field has begun to pivot research, innovation and tools to address these pressing challenges.
- Strengthening Partnerships: As we seek to engage on these wider issues, the peacebuilding field is forging expanded partnerships with leaders in other fields and sectors (e.g., arms control, democracy, education, technology). These partnerships can foster more integrated approaches and better solutions to complex challenges. At the same time, stronger partnerships can help increase understanding about peacebuilding’s value proposition and ultimately unlock opportunities for financing and support.
- Expanding Grassroots Engagement: Durable U.S. leadership and investments in peacebuilding requires expanded grassroots networks that can support the work ahead, including engaging elected representatives. The field is prioritizing rebuilding connections with and across everyday peacebuilders – from former Peace Corps volunteers and Rotary Club members, to faith communities, to veterans’ groups. But we need to do more to engage across political and social divisions and cultivate more diverse peacebuilding champions. We must be willing to consider new approaches and perspectives, even when our visions for “peace” may initially differ.
Despite the challenges we face, the mood at the recent conference was positive and forward-looking. The future of humanity may well depend on whether we can collectively muster new leadership and expertise for managing proliferating global conflicts and divisions without resorting to military force. We can and must reenergize and reinvent our field. To support that imperative, the Alliance for Peacebuilding has launched a new “future of peace and security” project and coalition. Together, we can widen the aperture, strengthen partnerships, and expand grassroots engagement to meet this moment.
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About the Authors
Liz Hume is executive director of the Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) and a member of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies’ Advisory Board. Peter J. Quaranto is a visiting professor of the practice and distinguished global policy fellow for 2025-2026 at the Keough School of Global Affairs, and concurrently serves as AfP’s senior fellow for the future of peace and security.
Recommended Citation
Hume, Liz and Peter J. Quaranto. “The Opportunity: Can the Peacebuilding Field Meet the Moment?” Peace Policy: Solutions to Violent Conflict, No. 63, (March 2026). https://doi.org/10.7274/31843000
