That is an excellent question. While the sacrifice of heroes in conflict is important to remember, it is the pursuit of peace that allows humanity to flourish.

Peace is not just the absence of war (often called negative peace); it is the presence of the conditions that allow people to thrive, which is known as positive peace.¹

Here are the key reasons why peace matters:

1. 📈 Economic Prosperity and Development

• Investment and Trade Flourish: Peace creates a stable and predictable environment where businesses feel safe to invest, and international trade can happen easily.² Conflict disrupts supply chains, destroys infrastructure, and scares away foreign investment.³

   
   

   

• Resource Allocation: In peacetime, governments can shift vast resources (money, technology, labor) away from defense and violence containment (military, police, prisons) and into essential development areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure (roads, power, communication).⁴

   

   

• Virtuous Cycle: Economic growth from peace leads to better jobs and improved living standards, which in turn reduces the poverty and inequality that often fuel conflict, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of stability.

2. 🛡️ Social Stability and Security

• Safety and Well-being: Peace ensures citizens can live without the constant fear of violence, crime, or war.⁵ This significantly reduces stress, trauma, and improves both physical and mental health for the entire population.⁶

   
   

   

• Rule of Law: Peaceful societies are built on strong, accountable institutions that uphold the rule of law, protect human rights, and ensure equal access to justice for everyone.⁷ Conflict destroys this institutional fabric.

   

   

• Social Cohesion: Peace fosters understanding, tolerance, and respect among diverse groups (ethnic, religious, political).⁸ It allows for dialogue to resolve differences, strengthening community bonds and national unity.

   

   

3. 🧠 Human Potential and Progress

• Education and Innovation: When schools and universities are safe and functional, human capital grows.⁹ Peace allows individuals to focus their energy on learning, innovation, scientific research, and artistic creation, leading to progress in technology and culture.¹⁰

   
   

   

• Focus on Global Challenges: Major global threats like climate change, pandemics, and poverty require unprecedented international cooperation.¹¹ Peace among nations is a prerequisite for tackling these shared challenges effectively.¹²

   
   

   

• Human Rights: Peace is the ultimate enabler of all other human rights. Without security and stability, rights like freedom of movement, expression, and assembly are impossible to guarantee.

In summary, the cost of war is not just measured in lives lost, but in human potential squandered.¹³ Peace is the most powerful engine for a better world—it is the stable platform from which all progress springs.