Description
The British Council brings together experts from research, policy and frontline practice to explore how approaches to peace are changing in today’s more dangerous and divided world, sharing examples from MENA and Eastern Europe and asking how we can develop peace in ways that are more local, culturally nuanced, practical and rooted in trust and relationships.
As the global peace and conflict landscape undergoes profound shifts, the British Council brings together voices from global academia, policy and practice to explore the future of peace and social cohesion in an increasingly fragmented world. The roundtable will examine how communities are adapting in a world where conflicts are deadlier, aid is shrinking, global politics is more multipolar, and disinformation divides societies and undermines trust and cohesion.
The discussion will surface practical innovations in programming from MENA and Eastern Europe, highlighting pragmatic models for supporting peace rooted in belonging, cohesion and locally legitimate social action that address underlying grievances and inequities. This roundtable will consider, from the British Council’s foundation in 1934 during the rise of fascism through to the heavily securitised world of 2025, the enduring power of cultural relations to rebuild trust, sustain dialogue and foster the mutual understanding that anchors lasting and transformative change.
