The post-Cold War world is being driven by conflicting forces: the forces of integration embodied in democracy, market economics and information technology, and the forces of disintegration embodied in regional disputes, poverty and expanding numbers of refugees. The forces of integration are leading mankind into a new developmental stage, spearheaded by developed countries. Meanwhile, the forces of disintegration are causing the spread of violence and the breakdown of state and society in developing countries. The resulting state of chaos threatens the stability and development of the whole world. We have to squarely face the fact that developed countries alone cannot prosper if developing countries are left at the mercy of the forces of disintegration.

The dispatch of military forces has been our main response to the outbreak of regional conflict, as, for example, during the Gulf War. Once conflicts have been resolved, Peace Keeping Forces (PKF) are sent to supervise the ceasefire. However, it is preferable to take steps to prevent conflict from breaking out in the first place. Such steps constitute the field of "conflict prevention", and it is in this field that Japan ought to make a contribution to international cooperation in the twenty-first century.

In the first half of the twentieth century Japan made the tragic mistake of going to war in Asia. In the second half of the century she not only vowed never to make such a mistake again, but also contributed to international peace and development through ODA. However, in the twenty-first century Japan`s contribution to international cooperation should be more actively focused on peace and security in addition to economic development. Japan will have to shift from a "do nothing" type of pacifism to a "do something" type of pacifism. "Conflict prevention" will have a much more concrete meaning for the Japanese people of the twenty-first century. Citizens, as well as government, must deepen their awareness. Based on the belief that it is important to make such a contribution, The Japan Center for Preventive Diplomacy (now the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention) was founded on July 19th, 1999. Its goal is to become the driving force behind the conflict prevention activities of Japanese citizens throughout the trouble spots of the world. On February 28th, 2002 The Japan Center for Preventative Diplomacy obtained legal status as a non-profit-organization and changed its name to the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention.

DONOWAKI Misturo
President