In Light Of Meaning

(idiomatic, Australia, Canada, US) given, considering

Example:   In light of the frequent kidnappings in Iraq, do you suppose someone could invent a small tracking device that could be woven onto clothing and hard to find on it so that when someone gets kidnapped, the tracking devices could pin down their location?
(Can we date this quote?) Roy Posner, A New Way of Living, page 103:
  The United Nations then became the one great attempt to establish a formal institution to unify the world, especially in light of the darkness that preceded it.