Abstract

The ability of states to project power and wage war around the globe is unparalleled in history. Despite the absence of direct war among the world’s superpowers, the international system has become an ever more tumultuous place as the over-reliance on deterrence postures, coercive policies, and the resort to armed conflict to resolve disputes have produced numerous protracted conflicts and wars instead of sustainable, positive peace and security. The objective of this contribution is to demonstrate that these coercive policies and the resort to armed force constitute a struggle for recognition. As such, the peaceful transformation of conflict relies upon policies of recognition in providing direct responses to the causes of conflict within the Anthropocene epoch.