Project position · 5 min read

What remains in a world without interstate wars

A world without interstate war need not become uniform. It can free differences from the fear of destruction.

MATERRA editorial team · July 24, 2026

War does not preserve culture

Competition between states is often justified as protection of language, memory and autonomy. Yet war destroys exactly what it promises to defend: people, cities, archives and trust between generations.

What should stay local

Language, education, festivals, faith, art and daily rules can be decided close to a community. The shared level is not meant to run every school; it protects dignity, safety and local participation.

The boundary of diversity

Cultural particularity does not justify violence, slavery, discrimination or removal of voice. Shared rights limit the power of tradition just as they limit the state. Beyond that boundary, difference is valued rather than merely tolerated.

Peace as room to experiment

When a culture need not prove strength through weapons, it has more freedom to change. Communities can try different forms of education, economy and self-government, compare outcomes and learn from one another without the threat of destruction.