Embedded Files
The Institue for Economics & Peace (IEP) and the Global Peace Index (GPI)
The IEP is a non-profit think tank that offers transformative frameworks and comprehensive research for understanding/promoting peace. One central mission of the IEP is the Global Peace Index (GPI), which systematically ranks countries based on a complex set of indicators, covering 99.7% of the world’s population. This index does not only quantify the state of peace globally but also explores questions related to promoting peace, with a special emphasis on understanding the economic benefits of peace.
The GPI study is a collaboration of international experts, and it follows a comprehensive methodology which includes: six measures of ongoing domestic and international conflicts (such as conflict intensity and relations with neighboring countries), ten measures of societal safety and security (including the number of refugees), and seven measures of militarization (such as military expenditure, personnel, and weapons access). It demonstrates how complex peace data can be made accessible and actionable. The GPI findings are used by for both scholars and policymakers worldwide.
The Global Peace Index 2024
The 2024 Global Peace Index shows that the world is at a critical point, with the risk of major conflicts surging. Currently, there are 56 conflicts worldwide (which is the highest number since World War II), involving 92 countries in cross-border conflicts. This number marks also the highest since the GPI’s beginnings of recording. The rising number of ‘minor’ conflicts, such as in Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Gaza (which in 2019 has initially been identified as ‘minor’), shows an increased likelihood of more significant conflicts in the future. The global economic impact of violence in 2023 was at $19.1 trillion (or $2,380 per person), marking an increase of $158 billion, mainly due to a 20% rise in GDP loss from conflict. Despite the magnitude of this impact, expenditure on peacebuilding and peacekeeping are situated at a total of only $49.6 billion, which is less than 0.6% of total military spending. Another alarming figure shows that the gap between the most and least peaceful countries is now wider than ever before (IEP, 2024 https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-briefing-web.pdf ).
In summary, the 2024 GPI shows a number of troubling trends:
97 countries experienced a deterioration in peacefulness (the highest number since the GPI began in 2008)
Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine as the primary drivers of the global decline in peacefulness (with battle deaths reaching 162,000 in 2023).
92 countries are currently involved in conflicts beyond their borders, more than at any time since the beginning of GPI’s recording.
108 countries have become more militarized.
110 million people are refugees/internally displaced due to violent conflict (with 16 countries hosting more than half a million refugees).
The Positive Peace Framework
While the research of IEP raises important questions about the practical application of data for peacebuilding, The Positive Peace Framework offers a model for building and sustaining peaceful societies. According to IEP, Positive Peace encompasses “the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies. In addition to the absence of violence, Positive Peace is also associated with many other social characteristics that are considered desirable, including better economic outcomes, measures of well-being, levels of inclusiveness, and environmental performance.” This concept suggests that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but is built on sustainable investments in economic development, effective institutions, and societal attitudes that foster resilience against future conflicts.
IEP identifies eight Pillars of Positive Peace as essential components that lead to mutual cooperation and sustained peace: a well-functioning government, a sound business environment, an equitable distribution of resources, acceptance of the rights of others, good relations with neighbors, free flow of information, a high level of human capital, and low levels of corruption. This framework is not only applicable to national and international policy but can also be adapted to the organization of festivals and other community events. By focusing on what we want to achieve—rather than merely avoiding what we do not want—festival organizers can use the Positive Peace Framework to analyse and enhance their festival ecosystems, contributing to broader societal shifts towards peace and cooperation.
Tool: The IEP Peace Academy
If you are interested in learning more about the IEP Positive Peace framework, you can take part in the IEP Peace Academy. It is a 2-hour online course with 5 modules, quizzes, a Facebook group and post-completion opportunities. There is the opportunity to purchase an IEP certificate of attainment on completion of the course. The subscription for a life-long access is free of charge. Find more information here:
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse