Peacebuilding: Prospects and Challenges in the Age of Trump

On 6 May 2025, Rotary Club La Valette had the honour of hosting Professor Richard E. Rubenstein, a globally recognised authority in peace and conflict resolution, for a compelling talk titled “Peacebuilding: Prospects and Challenges in the Age of Trump.”

Professor Rubenstein, Senior Fellow at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, has spent decades challenging conventional views on conflict. Rather than treating conflict as a communication breakdown, his work explores its deeper roots—moral, societal, historical, and political. His scholarship, which bridges law, theology, political theory, and history, has had a profound impact on generations of peacebuilders and academics.

The event brought together Rotarians from La Valette and Malta, Rotaracters, guests, and former students, all eager to engage with Professor Rubenstein’s insights. Although he humbly requested no formalities, the evening was a fitting tribute to his enduring contributions to peace studies and his long-standing connection with Malta’s academic and civic communities—most notably through his close friendship with Professor Joe Inguanez.

Professor Rubenstein opened his remarks by extending greetings from the Carter School, the oldest and largest conflict studies program in the United States. He highlighted his current visit to Malta to teach in the University of Malta’s joint Master’s program in Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean Security. This 15-year collaboration remains as relevant as ever.

He then spoke about a growing alliance between the Carter School and Rotary International. This collaboration is shaping practical peacebuilding efforts in regions such as Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Baltimore, and the Russian borderlands. It also includes educational initiatives for Rotarians, conferences, and community engagement activities. These partnerships aim to devise sustainable and practical approaches to resolving intergroup conflict—methods grounded in both academic research and real-world experience.

Professor Rubenstein emphasised the growing importance of civil society in global peace efforts, especially as traditional government-led “soft power” diplomacy has waned. The Trump era, he noted, has seen a shift toward power-based negotiation strategies, which has reduced support for programs that address the root causes of conflict. In this context, Rotary’s global network and ethos of service are more crucial than ever.

He warmly invited Rotarians in Malta to become more involved—both in supporting the local academic program in Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean Security and in joining international peace initiatives. His call to action underlined the vital role Rotary can play in nurturing the next generation of peacebuilders.

The evening closed with a deep appreciation for Professor Rubenstein—not only for his academic leadership and mentorship but also for his passionate advocacy of peace, justice, and collaboration across borders.