Is Trade really a path to peace?

After a few weeks of impressive democratic developments in the Middle East , many are asking if the Iraq invasion validates the theory that war can make peace. If anything, the ‘march of democracy’ will bring a march of trade and a great article in a few international new papers reviews the old theory that free trade is the vanguard to peace. Joi Preciphs writes in his article "Free Trade: A harbinger of peace," questions the old theory that free trade would reduce conflict between nations and promote better standards of living across the globe. Specifically, many are now questioning whether this hypothesis is true and they suggest that current free trade institutions promote a race to the bottom and thus economic conflict among developing nations.