Peace Report: Are modern warlords in power?

Introduction

A new report from four leading German peace and conflict research institutes warns that 'warlords' are making a comeback in the 21st century, undermining the international order. The 2026 Peace Report, launched Monday in Berlin, draws on a term commonly used in the 1990s to describe leaders in Liberia, Afghanistan, and Somalia who waged war for their own interests.

Coverage Comparison

The report was presented by researchers from the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies (bicc), the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH), and two other institutes. All three versions of the report's coverage by Deutsche Welle consistently highlight the central thesis: that a new generation of leaders is using military force as a preferred method of advancing their interests, disregarding international law.

Key Claims

The Comeback of Warlords

The report's authors argue that the term 'warlord' should be applied to several contemporary leaders. Conrad Schetter from bicc said: "The new warlords undermine the international order." The researchers explicitly named Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as examples.

Schetter accused them and others of a common approach: "Using military violence is their preferred method of advancing their interests. In doing so, they do not care about international law."

Ursula Schröder from IFSH added a note of caution: "We don't want to equate anything, but we do see patterns," referring to Putin, Trump, Netanyahu, and other people in power.

The report identifies a pattern of using violence as a "normal instrument of politics" and attempting "to curtail the political sovereignty of other countries," all in the interests of profit and expanding power.

Role of Gulf States

The study also points to several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. According to Schetter, these countries "are involved in numerous civil wars, from Libya to Somalia." The report suggests that for these states, involvement in conflicts serves their strategic and economic interests.

Impact of Aid Cuts

The Peace Report also highlights that financial cuts to development cooperation and humanitarian aid are strengthening crisis dynamics. The authors argue that reducing such funding exacerbates existing conflicts and undermines efforts to stabilize regions.

Germany's Role

One claim, carried by a single report, asserts that Germany has "largely squandered trust in the international order." This statement was not expanded upon in the provided material, but it suggests a critical assessment of Germany's foreign policy and its standing on the global stage.

Perspectives

German Peace Researchers

The researchers behind the Peace Report present a critical view of contemporary global leadership. They argue that certain powerful figures and states are actively undermining the rules-based international order through the use of military force. Their statements emphasize a pattern of behavior that prioritizes power and profit over legal and humanitarian norms.