German researchers warn of a 'world of warlords'

Four German peace research institutes on Monday warned of the 'disintegrating' situation of the rules-based world order. 

"Democracies are under pressure worldwide,” said conflict researcher Conrad Schetter at the presentation of the annual Peace Report.

“Both their number and their quality are declining globally," said Schetter, “and at the same time, the rules-based order is disintegrating.”

The report says the United Nations (UN) is in the midst of a deep crisis, with rivalries between major powers blocking decision-making, particularly in the Security Council. It is also being undermined by financial cuts.

Nevertheless, there is no viable alternative to the UN, the report’s authors say.  They call on the German government to work with medium-sized and smaller states to campaign for stable funding and reforms.

The period between 2021 and 2024 marks the most violent phase since the end of the Cold War, according to the report. It states that 61 armed conflicts were recorded in 36 countries, and the number of displaced people worldwide rose to over 120 million in April 2025.

Governments are acting like state warlords, flouting international rules and using violence to assert their interests, the report says. This is particularly evident in the interventions by the US, Russia and Israel, but also in the regional actions by Pakistan, Turkey, Ethiopia and the Gulf monarchies.

The institutes warn that cuts to international aid exacerbate instability in fragile states and hinder effective conflict prevention.

They said that to secure peace, credible security guarantees, regulations compliant with international law, a controlled approach to sanctions and the establishment of stable state structures are all required.