This book examines the complex interplay between peace, conflict, and power in an era of unprecedented global disruption. As traditional peace dynamics become increasingly overlaid by geo-economic and geopolitical interests, the volume explores how confrontational aspirations are reshaping international relations and the emerging global order. Through rigorous analysis of the interconnections between political, economic, military, and educational dimensions, the book demonstrates how conflict has become a guiding pattern behind state and non-state actors' actions. It reveals how geostrategic dynamics of peace and war are crucial in shaping how global actors portray and pursue their interests, with conflict serving as a mechanism by which access to resources, wealth, and power is contested and controlled. By situating contemporary conflicts within broader frameworks of geopolitical competition and geo-economic transformation, this book offers critical insights into how the dynamics of peace and war are being reconfigured in the twenty-first century.

This book will be of interest to students and scholars across multiple disciplines, including international relations, peace and conflict studies, security studies, political economy, geopolitics, and global governance. It will also appeal to policy-makers, diplomacy practitioners, defense analysts, and international development professionals seeking to understand the evolving dynamics of global conflict and cooperation. Additionally, the volume serves as an essential resource for researchers examining the intersection of economic interests and military strategy, as well as those concerned with the future of multilateralism and international order.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Peace Review.

Daniel Rajmil holds a PhD from the University of Vienna and is currently an Associate Professor at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). His research focuses on nuclear politics, geopolitics, geoeconomics, and conflict transformation through education. He directs the Master's program in Conflict, Peace, and Security (UOC-UNITAR) and is an active researcher at the i2Tic-AI Research Lab, specialising in the geopolitics and geoeconomics of AI.

Jon-Hans Coetzer is Senior Online Learning and Higher Education Specialist at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), with over 25 years of experience in instructional design, programme management, and quality assurance. He previously coordinated Strategic Crisis Management Training for the Swiss Federal Presidency and served as senior delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross, training armed forces in the Law of War across fifteen conflict zones. His research focuses on cross-cultural leadership and inclusive pedagogy for sustainable development within the UN 2030 Agenda framework.

Lucía Morales is an academic innovator and researcher at the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Ireland. Lucía has worked across universities in Ireland, Spain, the UK, and Switzerland. Her extensive research and publications in economics, finance, data analytics, and education drive impactful change and foster economic development.