The Center for Peace Studies (CPS) at North South University will relaunch as a world-class hub, sharply focused on the most urgent peace and security challenges facing Bangladesh, South Asia, and the world. In a region marked by political violence and geopolitical tensions, democratic backsliding, widespread disinformation and misinformation, forced migration, and climate-driven instability, CPS will deliver targeted, evidence-driven research and innovative policy solutions where they are needed most.
To maximize real-world impact, CPS will organize its work around five integrated pillars: conflict prevention and peacebuilding (addressing issues including political violence and geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific), information and cybersecurity, democratic resilience, refugees and human mobility, and climate security. This focused strategy not only builds a distinct global identity for CPS as a premier research institution but also enables deeper insights and more efficient use of resources, ensuring that every effort drives meaningful change.
Through robust research, policy engagement, and professional training, CPS will shape debates, inform action, and train the next generation of scholars and practitioners in Bangladesh. By forging strong partnerships and mobilizing diverse funding, CPS is set to become the region’s leader in peace research and policy, setting new standards for impact and innovation in the years ahead.
The landscape of peace and security in South Asia, and particularly in Bangladesh, is increasingly complex and dynamic. Despite significant progress in certain areas, the region continues to face multifaceted challenges that hinder the achievement of sustainable peace, democratic stability, and human security. These challenges include:
Persistent Political Violence and Cross-Border Tensions:
Bangladesh and the broader region of South Asia continue to face cycles of political unrest, localized violence, communal tensions, and volatility along porous borders. These internal and cross-border dynamics destabilize communities, creating persistent security challenges.
Democratic Backsliding and Governance Challenges:
South Asia is witnessing a rise in threats to democratic institutions, electoral processes, and media freedom. Authoritarian populism, the shrinking of civic space, and the erosion of civil liberties all endanger democratic resilience and the rule of law.
Escalating Geopolitical Rivalries and Strategic Risks:
The Indo-Pacific has become a focal point for great power competition, particularly between the US and China. Bangladesh’s strategic position in this environment—amid shifting alliances, maritime security concerns, and initiatives such as the Belt and Road, the QUAD, and IORA—requires a sophisticated analysis of the implications for national and regional security.
Information Disorder and Cyber Threats:
A surge in disinformation, misinformation, and cyberattacks—often driven by both state and non-state actors—is fueling polarization, undermining public trust, and posing new risks to political stability and peace.
Forced Displacement, Migration, and Refugee Crises:
The region remains a global epicenter for cross-border migration and refugee flows, driven by conflict, persecution, and socio-economic pressures. The management of these complex human mobility challenges remains insufficient and demands coordinated research and policy responses.
Climate Change and Environmental Insecurity:
Accelerating climate change is intensifying resource competition, environmental degradation, and disaster-driven migration. Bangladesh’s exposure to rising sea levels, extreme weather, and water-sharing disputes underscores the urgent need for climate security strategies.
Critical Data Gaps and Evidence Deficits:
Despite the magnitude of these challenges, there is a marked lack of accessible, high-quality, and context-specific data and research to inform evidence-based policy and programming in peace, security, and governance.
Limited Capacity in Peace and Security Studies:
While academic institutions exist, there is a pressing need to further develop human capacity in peacebuilding, strategic analysis, and conflict resolution through interdisciplinary programs and training for the next generation of thinkers and practitioners.
The Center for Peace Studies (CPS) is a timely and essential initiative that addresses critical gaps by providing a dedicated platform for rigorous research, evidence-based policy guidance, facilitated dialogue, and targeted capacity building. This contributes to a more stable, peaceful, and resilient Bangladesh and the South Asian region.