Rethinking Peace through Education: An Inquiry into the Root Causes of Violence and the Role of Modern Pedagogy

Abstract

Despite significant strides in science, technology, communication, and educational access, humanity continues to experience escalating unrest, systemic violence, and moral degradation. Despite near-universal access to education in many parts of the world—evidenced by global literacy rates reaching 86.3% by 2020 (UNESCO)—conflicts such as wars, terrorism, and systemic inequalities persist. This contradiction challenges the assumption that education inherently fosters peace. This paradox challenges the presumed correlation between education and peace. The paper critically evaluates the foundational objectives of modern education, tracing how its entanglement with religion, politics, materialism, and nationalism has contributed to the erosion of moral values and the perpetuation of violence.