The Opposite of War is Not Peace: The Complex Realities of 21st Century Conflict

This study examines the evolving nature of warfare and the fragile pursuit of peace in the 21st century through the lens of Critical Security Studies (CSS). Adopting a qualitative research methodology and relying primarily on secondary sources, the research interrogates how modern conflict has shifted from conventional, state-based wars to multidimensional struggles encompassing cyber warfare, proxy conflicts, disinformation campaigns, and technological militarization. The analysis demonstrates that contemporary security threats are socially constructed and deeply embedded in structures of inequality, thereby challenging state-centric and militarized interpretations of conflict. By drawing on cases such as Ukraine and Gaza, the study highlights how the pursuit of justice through violence perpetuates cycles of instability and undermines sustainable peace. CSS provides a framework for understanding these transformations by de-centering the state, emphasizing emancipatory approaches to security, and foregrounding the lived experiences of individuals and communities. The findings underscore that peace cannot be reduced to the absence of violence but must instead be envisioned as an ongoing process of justice, reconciliation, and emancipation. This research calls for inclusive, multi-stakeholder frameworks to address emerging threats and reimagine global security in an era of fragmentation and technological disruption.