FIFTY years ago the idea was first proposed to create a department for peace studies at Bradford University. The year 1964 was also a time of tightening tension between Fidel Castro's Republic of Cuban and the United States.

For example, in July that year, the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted mandatory sanctions against Cuba, requiring all members to sever diplomatic and trade relations. Only Mexico refused to comply, then on December 12 Cuban exiles fired a bazooka at United Nations headquarters in New York during a speech by Che Guevara to the General Assembly.

The Cold War politics of the 20th century didn't end with the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989. Recently, however, US President Barack Obama and Cuba's President Raul Castro may have taken a significant step in changing the course of history by relaxing diplomatic relations and ending some restrictions on trade, travel and other exchanges.

Dare we hope, then, that aside from parts of the MIddle East tangible progress is being made? For the last 40 years Professor Paul Rogers, of Bradford University's Peace Studies department, has managed to remain positive about international relations.

He said: "If you go back 20 years to 1994 there was the war in the Balkans between former Yugoslav states; there was civil war in Sri Lanka; Northern Ireland was in a bad way and there were massacres in parts of Africa. In terms of levels of violence and warfare it was worse in the mid-1990s. It's pretty bad now, but it's not as bad as it was then."

Professor Rogers also takes heart from developments between Cuba and the United States, talks between the United States and Iran - which he thinks could lead to an agreement on nuclear power - and events in Tunisia.

"On December 17, four years ago, a young man set fire to himself in protest against the Government in Tunisia. Within weeks that regime was got rid of and now the country is now becoming a properly functioning democracy. A general election has taken place. By next year (2015) Tunisia will have made a complete transition."

Since the Israeli bombing and bombardment of Gaza City in the summer an argument has continued in the letters columns of this newspaper about the rights and wrongs of the long and bloody conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.

The Parliament of the European Union recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of recognising Palestine as a state and removing Hamas from the list of proscribed international terrorist organisations. In addition, Arab and Palestinian diplomats have been trying to agree a timetable for Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.

"I am not at all sure Israelis will go along with that. If Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of hawkish parties get back in the January General Election, I don't think they will agree to leaving the West Bank," Professor Rogers said.

With relations easing elsewhere and Palestinians feeling they have some legitimacy in the eyes of the West, how much longer can Israel, described as 'impregnable in its insecurity', go on living behind high walls?

Last week a Pakistan green and white flag was at half-mast outside Bradford's City Hall, a mark of respect offered by the district to the families and friends of the 141 pupils and teachers murdered in a school in the city of Peshawar by Pakistani Taliban fighters.

They claimed they did it in retaliation for drone attacks on their women and children. American drone attacks have caused growing animosity among the people of Pakistan.

"They feel that the United States is infringing their sovereignty. Temporarily what happened in Peshawar seems to have brought together Pakistan's fractious political parties. It looks as if Pakistan's Government is going to be more united," Professor Rogers said.

The migration of people - from the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa - brought about by wars and poverty is an unresolved problem for the member states of the European Union and shows no sign of abating.

"People will only move in large numbers when they are desperate. People on the margins being moved by criminal groups could get a heck of a lot worse in the next 20 years. The international economy is not delivering equality. Large numbers of educated people on the margins will lead to anger and revolt," Prof Rogers added.

Human trafficking, one of the consequences of mass migration from east to west, from south to north, has been a growing problem in West Yorkshire. Last week the T&A reported that 84 trafficking victims had been rescued in the region so far this year, compared to a national figure of 1,746.

West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson said: "Safeguarding vulnerable victims and human trafficking are key priorities in my refreshed Police and Crime Plan."