Buddhist Peace Thought for Global Peace: Implications for Diplomacy, Conflict Resolution, and Sustainable Economic Governance

Abstract

This qualitative review examines the contemporary relevance of Buddhist peace thought to global conflict, international diplomacy, and sustainable economic governance. The study had three objectives: (1) to analyze the relevance of Buddhist principles to contemporary global challenges; (2) to examine their application in diplomacy and conflict resolution; and (3) to explore how Buddhist ethical principles can inform economic systems oriented toward fairness, sustainability, and peace. The study used qualitative secondary analysis of peer-reviewed scholarship, academic books, and selected policy-oriented sources, applying thematic content analysis to identify recurring concepts, applications, and limitations.
The findings indicate that nonviolence (ahiṃsā), compassion (karuṇā), mindfulness, equality, interdependence, and right livelihood provide a coherent ethical vocabulary for peacebuilding. In conflict settings, these principles emphasize restraint, dialogue, empathy, and attention to the mental roots of hostility. In diplomacy, Buddhist heritage and values can function as forms of cultural and soft-power engagement, although their effectiveness depends on political context and should not be assumed to replace conventional diplomatic institutions. In economic governance, Buddhist economics challenges growth-centered and consumption-intensive models by emphasizing sufficiency, responsible consumption, shared well-being, and environmental responsibility. The study proposes a three-domain synthesis linking conflict transformation, ethical diplomacy, and sustainable economic governance. Its contribution is conceptual rather than causal: Buddhist peace thought can enrich contemporary peace and governance discourse, but its practical effects require context-sensitive empirical evaluation.