Peace report 2026: The new warlords – Containing the dynamics of violence
Editors: commissioned by four German peace research institutes: Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies; Peace Research Institute Frankfurt; Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg; Institute for Development and Peace
Project typ: Transfer project (FB 2: Networking and knowledge transfer)
Main topic
Imperialist great-power politics is reshaping the dynamics of war, peace, and security. States are increasingly acting like warlords and using war as a political tool. Transitions from violent conflict to peace are treated as “deals”; middle powers such as the Gulf states are emerging with new self-confidence but an ambivalent course; and technological innovation is transforming warfare and making regulation more difficult. At the same time, international cooperation in peacekeeping—for example, in development cooperation or within the United Nations—is in its most severe crisis. Domestically, racist attitudes are also on the rise in Germany. The 2026 Peace Report analyzes options for promoting peace nonetheless.
With its concrete recommendations for action for the Bundestag and the Federal Government, the Peace Report serves as a key platform for dialogue between academia, society, and politics. The German peace research institutes (bicc/IFSH/INEF/PRIF) have been publishing the report since 1987.
The Peace Report is mostly in German. The recommendations and statements are also in English.