(RNS) — As I write, the death toll in Gaza is nearing 40,000. The number of wounded is close to 100,000. Roughly 1,140 died in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. This does not include the more than 600 killed in the West Bank since, nor those killed in the escalating attacks across the region. While policymakers in Washington are raising alarms of a potential regional war in the Middle East, the reality is, it is already underway.
Meanwhile, the numbers lost and wounded from the Russia-Ukraine war are difficult to substantiate, but estimates suggest at least 120,000 dead Russians alongside nearly 70,000 Ukrainians. In other wars — from Sudan to Syria — casualties continue to mount.
The world is now experiencing the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II. Yet, the international community seems unable or unwilling to effectively end the violence and secure peace.
These conflicts are different in many ways. But in some ways, they are all too similar. None of the warring parties lacks bullets, bombs or any manner of weapon. All have political and material support from various corners of the globe. Many have been fighting for years, if not decades. And they have all had realistic opportunities to stop shooting and achieve some level of peace.
As a Quaker and someone who knows and learns from peacebuilders around the world, I know that peace is possible. My faith calls me to reject all forms of violence and to continually work to prevent war and break cycles of violence. But I must admit the state of violent conflict in our world today challenges these beliefs.
Why, when most people want the same peace and security for their families and communities, do so many wars persist? And why, when we have so many nonviolent tools at our disposal to help prevent and end wars, do our governments continue to pursue militarized policies and pour hundreds of billions of our taxpayer dollars into war and weapons?
People of all faiths — including those who are not particularly religious — can see the horrors and folly of war. However, as an American citizen, I cannot ignore my government’s deep and long-lasting involvement in fomenting wars and violence across the globe. We have 750 military installations in 80 countries on all continents except Antarctica.
After 22 years of the global war on terror, armed conflict, political violence and acts of terrorism against civilians are all on the rise. Clearly the militarized approaches the U.S. government has pursued are not working.
Fortunately, there is growing evidence that war is not the answer and that nonmilitary tools can help secure a long-sought peace, even in the most difficult conflicts. A new Friends Committee on National Legislation report details the failures of militarized approaches and outlines concrete, nonmilitary approaches for preventing and reducing violent conflict.
“Alternatives to War” recommends that Congress and the administration invest seriously in three areas: diplomacy; development and peacebuilding; and rule of law and restorative justice. These approaches are not only more effective at reducing violence and ending wars; they are also less costly.
For example, the Institute for Economics and Peace found that every $1 invested in preventive, nonviolent solutions to build peace and respond to emergent crises can save up to $16 in the cost of war. Indeed, where only 7% of terrorist groups have been defeated by a military effort, 43% disbanded as the result of a political settlement, and 40% ended after arrest and prosecution via the criminal justice system.
Despite this evidence, Congress continues to invest in failed militarized approaches over civilian-led nonviolent programs.
The spending package passed by the House for FY2025 would provide a 1% increase ($8.57 billion) to the Pentagon budget, above last year’s level and consistent with spending caps. The Senate version went beyond the president’s budget and spending caps. It would provide a 3.3% increase ($27.2 billion) for the Pentagon while slashing funding for diplomacy, development and peacebuilding by $6.6 billion. This includes an over 80% cut to U.S. support for international organizations and eliminating U.S. funding for over a dozen U.N. entities.
Congress must stop doubling down on militarism and get serious about investing in tools that can effectively reduce violence, prevent war and promote sustainable peace. Although wars persist in our world, they are not inevitable. We can invest more in ending violence and building peace — if we choose to do so.
For people of faith and everyone who wants a more peaceful world, now is the time to urge our policymakers to make this shift real by reducing our reliance on costly military approaches and investing instead in the tools of diplomacy, peacebuilding, rule of law and restorative justice.
Our families, our communities and our world are counting on us.
(Bridget Moix is general secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation and its associated Quaker hospitality center, Friends Place on Capitol Hill. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)