Definitions of Peace and Reconciliation in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Australia

Abstract

The USA, United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, Canada, and Australia represent key English-speaking countries in what is now widely referred to as the Anglosphere. These key countries share not merely the English language but in most respects a common culture, a common colonial history, a common geopolitical orientation, high levels of development, high standards of living, high levels of military expenditure, and generally, good access to natural resources. This chapter analyzes how a cross section of ordinary citizens from the above Anglosphere countries have defined peace and recognition. Among the prominent results were that there was an equal distribution of citizens who understood peace as positive peace and negative peace. Moreover, there was a high degree of complexity in the definitions of reconciliation from citizens. This suggests there is a widespread discrepancy or democratic deficit between the views of ordinary citizens and the official polices of Anglosphere nations and that leaders and policy makers within Anglosphere nations need to take cognizance of a growing culture of peace movement.