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The culture of peace is defined by the collective attitude, value, and belief that discourage violence and lead to reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. While the culture of violence is founded on conceit, attachment to ideas, and craving, the culture of peace rests on respect of others, tolerance, and contentment.

Values or attitudes that unite people, regardless of identity and belief, are badly needed in the age of globalization to prevent increasing polarization. Apart from extreme prosperity that exists amidst abject poverty, the world witnesses the rise of globalism hand in hand with the rise of tribalism. There is also a huge division between the world of materialism and the world of religiosity – between the McWorld and Jihad. Not to mention the division between secularism and fundamentalism. The bipolarity is well registered in many respects in this age of extreme.

The world’s divisions can be relieved once every faction opens their minds, respects others’ identity, and practices generosity. This can be achieved only when we recognize humanity in each other. We have more in common than different, i.e. the pursuit of happiness, aversion to suffering, longing for respect, desire to be good, and care for our dignity.

Apart from realizing and giving due respect to our common humanity, a belief in nonviolence is another intrinsic value to the culture of peace. Violence helps to settle a problem temporarily, but creates new problems in the long run, or even exacerbates the old problems. Though the use of violence may lead to the elimination of some evil persons, it can produce the new ones as well including the perpetrators themselves. Violent revolution can neither eradicate all evil people nor create lasting peace. After their opponents are gone, they tend to point their guns to each other and a new round of purge will start.

Last but not least, the culture of peace rests on simplicity that enables us to experience happiness through good work and meaningful life, and achieve inner happiness through peaceful mind free from anger, hatred, and greed. In other word, the awareness that happiness is not out there, but right inside our mind.