Symposium: Well-being in the context of peace

In this contribution, we propose a fresh approach to peace-building, one that begins with the concept of well-being and embraces transdisciplinary perspectives. The starting point for this reflection is an insight widely acknowledged and eloquently captured by Otto Scharmer (and earlier by Gregory Bateson, 1972): the root cause of the polycrisis we face today is a deep sense of disconnection. This disconnection manifests in three key areas: between humans and the Earth (the ecological divide), between individuals (the social divide), and within each person themselves (the spiritual divide). Peace-building is a process that can unfold on both the individual and collective levels. It begins with personal reconnection: rediscovering harmony within oneself through the body and inner life. This personal transformation can then lead to collective social action, driven by the transformative power of learning.