Neoliberalism Fails to Deliver Lasting Peace in Global Conflicts

US President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed economic development plans as part of peace mediation efforts in several regions, including Gaza, Ukraine’s Donbas, and Syria’s Golan Heights. These proposals aim to resolve conflicts through economic incentives and rewards.

The US approach is not unique, as similar methods have been employed by Western neoliberal initiatives in the Global South for decades. A notable example is the “economic peace” initiative launched in the early 1990s, which aimed to promote regional infrastructure development and Palestinian economic integration. The plan was designed to foster stability and mutual interest between Israelis and Palestinians.

However, this approach has proven ineffective in resolving conflicts. In Occupied Palestine, the “peace process” led to increased Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian land, rather than addressing the root cause of Palestinian economic stagnation: the Israeli occupation. The World Bank warned that investment without a political settlement ending Israeli control would fail in the medium and long term.

Similar concerns have been raised about Trump’s latest economic plan for Gaza, presented by his adviser Jared Kushner. The project reflects two contradictory dynamics: it prioritizes opportunities for investment while also entrenching Israel’s colonial enterprise on Palestinian land.

In Ukraine’s Donbas region, a similar approach has been employed in the past, with mixed results. In Syria’s Golan Heights, economic development plans have also been proposed as part of peace mediation efforts.

The effectiveness of these economic proposals remains to be seen, and it is unclear whether they will lead to lasting peace or stability in these regions.

Source: Al Jazeera