ABSTRACT
In short, notwithstanding regional groupings, military alliances and the international political and economic architecture, the threat to peace and harmony continues and it has several dimensions. The future of peace and harmony in the 21st century is likely to be directly linked to issues concerning five key realities of life today: ecology, global warming and climate change; nuclear weapons, emerging technology of warfare and the continuing arms race among nation states; geopolitics and nationalism; religious extremism; and poverty and inequality. Peace, harmony and development will not automatically become integral to our times. But there are enormous possibilities. The six interrelated perspectives are: redefining development by going beyond GDP; re-examining the use of technology; empowerment of women; support to enlightened citizens and organisations; augmentation of spiritual resources; and strengthening of the international political, economic, social and cultural architecture. Terrorism and climate change would continue to throw serious challenges to objectives of securing human welfare and a peaceful world.
