If it's not human nature, then it's the forces that uphold social, cultural and political structures. These are the undercurrents that arguably and to a large extent influence much of the behaviors of human nature.
Also, if it's not human nature, then the structure of the world is where a culprit could be found for why there's no peace in our current world.
Had this conversation the other day about world peace and I hesitated to agree with this discussion that there will be no peace for a long while given the current state of the world. This discussion is usually centered around the current wars that are happening, seemingly large and small.
The Middle East is a hotbed for a clash of geopolitical interests and historical grievances, and these conflicts are then amplified by the actions of powerful nations and non-state actors vying for influence and control.
There are uprisings across other parts of the world too. The impulse for a fundamental change has already taken root in parts of Europe and North America.
I'm not well-versed on the intricate details, it looks messy on the outside, and there are quite a few perspectives, some of which carry an element of truth.
A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
One of the reasons why I hesitated to agree is I think much of the situation is not what it really seems to the eye, as it's presented through the media, which then becomes one of the main "sources" of material for public discourse and perception.
Media framing of conflicts as signs of global collapse can inadvertently contribute to helplessness and despair, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy about the impossibility of peace.
Here, "situation" doesn't include the atrocities and heinous crimes that are committed in these events. That is a very real and unfortunate consequence.
On a similar train of thought, I think we're living in changing times and not end of times. At least according to history, very similar events have happened in the past.
The structure of the world hasn't changed fundamentally could be a probable reason why such events keep on happening throughout history.
Put in another way, it's still the same house, just the furniture that has been changed. This implies that lasting peace can only happen via restructuring these foundational systems rather than hoping people will simply be better.
Can Personal Peace Create Global Change?
Like happiness, peace via external means is quite hard to maintain.
Depending on what your definition of peace is, there are many "pockets of peace" across the world. Both conflict and peace co-exist in constant tension, with forces of stability working alongside forces of discord.
My definition of peace is simply having the mind/emotional space to work on improving aspects of my life that are deemed important.
Peace can be a personal, internal state, regardless of external events. While it may not solve the world's problems, it provides a crucial anchor in a chaotic world, allowing for the possibility of maintaining stability even when the surrounding environment is in turmoil.
A thought that comes to mind from this perspective is whether these pockets of personal/community peace can eventually grow and connect to create a more "stable" global landscape.
That's the aim hopefully at some point in the future but we're a long way from there. Besides the unchanging structures, NPCs outnumber the playable characters.
Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.