It has helped me understand that people have not changed their basic being since time began. Buddhism has what is called "The Three Poisons." These are greed, anger and ignorance. Buddhism has also taught that there is no world peace as no one or no thing can make the world stay peaceful due to the three poisons.

Personal world peace is possible as we live in the world between our ears and we cannot leave it and others cannot enter it. The best we can do is find people who are like ourselves and become "fellow travelers" with them.