Engineering's Role in Global Peace Pursuit

Engineering can create weapons systems or systems for defense and wellbeing. But can engineering create peace? In a Perspective, Guru Madhavan and colleagues propose an expansive mode of engineering practice that seeks to reduce conflict. In a world where the technical choices about pumping stations for transboundary water conveyance projects can become tense diplomatic questions, engineering for peace requires the competence to build systems that work as intended, the capability to foresee how such systems might be used or misused, and the character to take responsibility for one's creations. Examples include technologies that reduce social friction and increase wellbeing and stability, from solar panels in rural villages to water pipelines or power grids that can withstand attack. Technical and ethical debts of poor design can lead to failures in times of crisis or tragedies when systems exacerbate inequalities, drive feuds, or hurt innocent people. While quality and safety have been thoroughly integrated into engineering cultures, peace awaits its moment. There are as of yet no accepted peace engineering standards or watchdogs. According to the authors, three changes will help peace engineering become the norm: procurement should reward projects that lower conflict risk, education should address the broader consequences of engineering, and stable and adequate institutional support should be secured for peace-focused engineering. The authors ask whether engineers will remain narrow problem-solvers, or will they see themselves as civic actors with moral responsibilities?