In an increasingly insecure world, it seems a bit far-fetched to long for one of the holiday season's most famous adages: “… and on earth, peace to those of good will.”  Somehow, the thought of peace seems more fleeting this year.  Humanity's best intentions were crippled by a virus the size of 1/400th the width of a human hair that brought a planet of 13 billion trillion tons to its knees.Yet in other ways, more aspirational to be sure, COVID 19 reintroduced us to our need for one another, even if just to survive.   One side effect of the pandemic has been the abatement of the frenetic political and cultural divisions that only a year ago left many wondering if democracy itself could survive.  The global population not only experienced a certain peace from endless political wars but craved it.  Poverty, climate change, capitalism, identity wars, political dysfunction, unemployment, the loss of hope – all these, when seen collectively, appeared too powerful for our abilities to overcome.When the effects of the vaccine are realized, there will be the relentless moving of forces to take us back to that place of division, violence, decline and even death.  How our political, financial and civil society leaders respond to that temptation will determine if peace itself will simply be relegated to the history books.Canada is a nation globally heralded for its peaceful ability to co-exist.  There are hot points of dissension, as a normal and creative part of our history, but we've pulled ourselves together when required.  But the world we live in is no longer so secure and to pull up the drawbridge of our security and isolate ourselves can only lead to our ruin, since the world is now interconnected as never before in history.A few years ago, Canadian-born psychologist Steven Pinker published his book, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, in which he maintained that this world has now entered its most peaceful era.  Violence was down appreciably, he maintained, and a better day was just around the corner.  Immediately, the dissenters emerged, questioning his data and research methods.  Despite the viability of many of Pinker's claims, it was a difficult exercise to view the world in this fashion.And now the Global Peace Index has concluded that, “the world is less peaceful today than at any time in the last decade.”  They list numerous examples.  Among them:

• 92 countries deteriorated whilst 71 countries improved between 2016 and 2017 – the worst result in the last four years.
• The number of battle deaths each year has trended upward over the last decade, increasing by 264 per cent over that time.
• Both Europe and North America became less peaceful over the last year, along with another four regions. 23 of the 36 countries in Europe deteriorated.
• The economic impact of violence was $14.8 trillion in 2017 or 12.4 per cent of global GDP – equivalent to nearly $2,000 per person.
• For the first time in modern history, refugees made up almost 1 per cent of the global population in 2017 – greater than the population of the UK or nearly half the population of Russia.

Whatever Pinker's view, these numbers aptly described our world in the runup to COVID and the question now is whether we will return to such turbulence.One great question remains as to whether America will seek to re-enter the international scene as a unifier or a disruptor, like its competitors China or Russia.  We are still a world in great tensions, conflicts and crises that were already running rampant in the years prior to COVID, Donald Trump and Brexit.  The result has been a decline in both peace and its champions.Canada's role in this troubled world is not unfamiliar.  Our reality of being a peaceful middle power is now more required than ever.  We still have remnants of what was once a transformative diplomatic presence.  Our economy remains stable enough to venture out into a dysfunctional globe.  Canada's politics, forever in danger of destroying our comity and respectful diversity, is still capable of surprising advancements.  And this country's greatest strength – its people – remain respectful enough to forge a path ahead despite their distinctions and differences.Nations like America and Britain have much to repair in their international relations, but this country has remained active in its dealings with its allies.  Bob Rae's presence as Canada's representative at the United Nations is enhanced by his lifetime of diplomatic development and skills.  Our businesses and corporations, greatly challenged by this pandemic, nevertheless remain robust enough to excel in a world marketplace, itself in the process of transformation.Lester B. Pearson's insights of 1968 remain even more true today:  “Of all our dreams today, there is none more important – or so hard to realize – than that of peace in the world.” Realize it we must, for without it nothing can last, no great movement of humanity can prevail, and politics will founder on its own natural enmities.If we seek true peace that it must be shaped by citizens and associations of good will, just as the original Christmas story claimed.  Peace first.  It's a message the country has build itself upon.Glen Pearson was a career professional firefighter and is a former Member of Parliament from southwestern Ontario. He and his wife adopted three children from South Sudan and reside in London, Ontario. He has been the co-director of the London Food Bank for 32 years. He writes regularly for the London Free Press and also shares his views on a blog entitled “The Parallel Parliament“. Follow him on twitter @GlenPearson.