This essay re-engages with Elise Boulding’s seminal work on Cultures of Peace published in 2000. Unfortunately, the world witnessed increasing conflicts since the beginning of the century when the book was published, with the war in Ukraine, the Isreal-Hamas war, Sudan’s civil war, and the Houthi militancy in Yemen to name but a few. Reading about the violence that happens every single day renders the call for peace ever more important as well as ever more utopian. In light of this, revisiting Boulding’s work 25 years after its publication becomes both more difficult and potentially more relevant than ever. Even though the focus on peace rather than war during such conflict-ridden times comes with its challenges, this essay will provide a fresh perspective on Boulding’s work. It will first provide background and context of the book Cultures of Peace, the time in which it was written as well as her contribution in the broader context of this symposium. It will secondly, mobilize a sociological analysis of Boulding’s concept of ‘peaceableness,’ which will highlight the analytical value of Boulding’s seminal work. Finally, the essay will close by suggesting why Boulding’s work continues to be relevant despite the concerns geopolitical developments pose today.

KEYWORDS: Elise Boulding, Cultures of Peace, Peaceableness, Utopia