“Peace Through Development”

Abstract

Outside powers have diverse visions of international peace in the Middle East. The first is the “peace through strength” hypothesis, arguing that a “security deficit” is the root cause of conflict. Proponents of the hypothesis argue for building networks of military bases and strategic alliances, conducting, if necessary, regime changes and military strikes in an anti-terror campaign, a mode of security governance. The second features “peace through democracy,” emphasizing that a “democracy deficit” results in conflict. Leaders of democracies are more prudent in power usage so that they refrain themselves from launching aggression, a model of democratic governance. The third is the “peace through development” approach, arguing that a “development deficit” is the root cause of conflict. China favors “peace through development,” advocating a development-focused peace initiative to address the peace-development-security nexus in the Middle East. China offers developmental aid and human resources training to the target countries in order to improve their capacity with key infrastructure and livelihood projects as the centerpiece. Beijing places a high premium on infrastructure inter-connectivity between the Middle Eastern countries and attempts to builds these countries into a community of interest for regional peace by way of the Belt and Road Initiative.