The new Security Policy Strategy of the State Secretariat for Security Policy (SEPOS) reflects the global trend toward increased military preparedness and defense spending. It emphasizes national resilience and autonomous defense in view of a myriad of modern and hybrid threats. However, it falls short in recognizing peace as the foundation of long-lasting security.
Today’s challenges should not be approached by strengthening defense capabilities as much as it should be in promoting a people-centered vision of security amid increasingly polarized and securitized political discourse. The new strategy should offer a chance to redefine security and resilience through social cohesion—not as a secondary “soft” concern, but as a core element of genuine security. An increasingly militarized understanding of security risks narrowing our collective imagination at precisely the moment when humanity requires more inclusive and long-term approaches. It took two World Wars to seek a solution at a global level and begin to reflect on what world peace could mean for the progress of humanity. Returning to military solutions and isolation is a step backward.
The Bahá’í Writings view peace as the outcome of just relationships among peoples, institutions, and nations. Lasting security depends on justice as a foundation, trust and social cohesion, and foremost, the recognition of the fundamental oneness of humanity.
In Colombia, India, Malaysia, and Zambia, among others, Bahá’í communities have worked to strengthen social cohesion by implementing initiatives that promote gender equality. This community-level work contributed to wider national and global conversations on the issue. The Baha’i community in Kiribati suggests that “The path forward requires a dual approach: strengthening grassroots initiatives to address cultural barriers and ensuring that national-level efforts are meaningfully integrated into local contexts.”1 This understanding was echoed during the event ‘Promise of World Peace’ organized by the Bahá’í International Community for UN Member- States and civil society earlier this year.1
Switzerland has a long tradition of international humanitarian law, dialogue and multilateral cooperation. To sustain this role, the same spirit of trust and cooperation must be cultivated within society itself. The Bahá’í Community of Switzerland believes that relaying this same engagement at the grassroots level will strengthen the country’s relationships with its neighbors and trade partners.
At a time of growing fragmentation, security requires more than technical solutions. It calls for a renewed awareness of humanity’s interconnectedness and a commitment to building the conditions that enable peace.
