Christmas in Ithaca NY 2024 is as picturesque as you could want: a blanket of snow outside, a crackling log fire inside, and a sense of stillness that invites reflection. It feels almost Dickensian in its charm.
Back in 2013, I was writing a chapter on peace for The Bloomsbury Companion to Political Philosophy. That chapter was published and has since been republished in other texts—a hopeful reminder of how central peace remains to philosophical discourse. I find myself often returning to the topic, especially at Christmas, when the angelic proclamation to the shepherds—“And on earth, peace, goodwill to all…”—echoes through the ages.
But what kind of peace? And when?
If the shepherds imagined that peace would come immediately or even soon, they would have been disappointed. Over two thousand years later, Christmas carols still echo the heavenly host’s proclamation, and yet peace seems as elusive as ever.
Peace, of course, is a tricky concept. In some views, peace is merely the absence of war—a negative definition. When fighting ceases, we call it peace. Yet, as history and personal experience show, the end of conflict doesn’t necessarily bring true peace.
This is why many now speak of positive peace: not just the absence of violence, but the presence of conditions that allow for human flourishing. Positive peace includes well-being, justice, and a life enriched with truth, beauty, and goodness. It’s this fuller peace, I think, that the heavenly host announced.
So where do we stand today? Has warring ended? Not yet. According to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, in 2024, there are 23 active conflicts classified as “wars,” with over 1,000 battle-related deaths annually. While this is an increase from 2013, it is still a relatively small proportion of the world’s 195 countries. The vast majority of the global population lives in nations not actively at war—a historical achievement worth recognizing, even as we lament ongoing violence.
And what of human thriving? Poverty is a good measure. According to the World Bank, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty (less than $2.15 per day, adjusted for inflation) has fallen dramatically, from 38% in 1990 to about 8.4% in 2019, the most recent pre-pandemic data. Despite setbacks caused by COVID-19, progress has resumed, with poverty rates again declining, albeit unevenly. Sub-Saharan Africa remains disproportionately affected, with over 60% of the world’s extreme poor living in the region.
These data tell a mixed story: on the one hand, undeniable progress; on the other, unacceptable suffering. Yet the progress gives hope—a sign that change is possible.
This brings me back to Christmas. At the heart of the Christmas story is a baby—a new life filled with possibility. The birth of a child symbolizes hope and peace, not through grandiose declarations or military might, but through the quiet miracle of new beginnings.
This Christmas, as I reflect on the state of the world and my own place in it, I feel a renewed call to embody peace in my own small way. I cannot end all wars or eradicate poverty, but I can strive to live as an agent of peace in my daily life.
May we all, in our own ways, bring a little more peace into the world this coming year.
A blessed Christmas to all,
+Ab.Andy
Sources for Data
1. Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP): Information on current conflicts and classifications of wars (https://ucdp.uu.se).
2. World Bank Poverty Data: Latest figures on global poverty rates and trends (https://databank.worldbank.org/source/poverty-and-equity).
3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Data on global human development and armed conflict (https://hdr.undp.org).
4. World Bank (Pre-Pandemic Poverty Data, 2019): Trends in extreme poverty before the impact of COVID-19 (https://www.worldbank.org).