The Fractured Landscape of Culture and Peace: An Analysis of Contemporary Challenges

In a world increasingly defined by fragmentation and contestation, the Culture and Peace agenda advances a vital proposition: culture, in symbolic, quotidian, and institutional forms, can serve as a powerful catalyst for dialogue, empathy, and sustainable peacebuilding. This vision treats culture not as peripheral to political life, but as a generative force shaping mutual understanding, trust and conflict transformation. Yet, despite its potential, the cultural sector faces critical and interconnected barriers constraining its capacity to promote peace and social healing. Drawing upon contributions from experts belonging to the International Cultural Relations Research Alliance (ICRRA), this report identifies three major domains of challenge: the volatile geopolitical climate and securitisation of culture; the continuing imperative of decolonisation within international cultural relations; and the complex ethical and social transformations arising from artificial intelligence (AI) and new digital technologies. This consultation report was produced for the MONDIACULT 2025 Digital Library, a dynamic knowledge hub designed to inform discussions on cultural policies both during the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2025, and beyond.