Conflicts to Watch in 2025

Peacebuilding in Conflict Zones

Every year, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) releases its Conflicts to Watch report, and the 2025 edition is an alarming look at where tensions could boil over. From Ukraine and Russia to rising instability in the Sahel and growing U.S.-China tensions over Taiwan, this year’s list warns of conflicts that could shape global security.

We usually think of conflict prevention in terms of diplomacy, military strategy, or economic sanctions. But what about the work happening on the ground, long before tensions reach a crisis point? That’s where the Peace Corps comes in.

Peace Corps volunteers don’t sit at negotiation tables. They’re not drafting peace treaties. But they are in the very communities where instability takes root, helping create education, economic, and social opportunities.

If we look at West Africa, for example, CFR report flags political violence and extremist threats in the region as growing concerns. A large number of these conflicts are driven by poverty and a lack of opportunities—especially for young people—pushing them toward dangerous paths. Peace Corps volunteers step in by providing education, leadership training, and job skills, giving them real opportunities to build a stable and productive future.

For example, RPCV Campbell Martin offered a glimpse into his day-to-day life as as a Volunteer in Gambia.

Another hot spot where Volunteers work is in Central America, where organized crime and economic instability often leave families with no choice but to migrate in search of a better future.
Peace Corps programs centered on entrepreneurship, community building, and youth empowerment give people the chance to build better lives where they are. When communities have stability and opportunity, conflict doesn’t have as much room to grow.

As a recent article about peacebuilding in WorldView magazine notes, “The world is experiencing the highest level of violence since World War II, with armed conflicts simmering, enduring, or raging in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Israel/Palestine, to name just a few.” This reality highlights the need for grassroots initiatives, like those led by Peace Corps volunteers, to promote stability and prevent conflicts.

CFR’s report makes it clear: 2025 could be a volatile year. But real conflict prevention isn’t just about governments and policies—it’s about people. And people, working on the ground, making small but meaningful changes, are what help keep communities from collapsing.