The Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2017 was released yesterday, and it contains some enlightening findings. Here are some of the highlights:
- The world became 0.28 percent more peaceful over the past year.
- Conflict has reduced global economic activity by 12.6 percent.
- Syria is the least peaceful country in the world for the fifth year in a row.
- Iceland has been the most peaceful country in the world every year since 2008.
- Myanmar is now more peaceful than the United States.
The GPI ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators. The indicators are used to evaluate the countries in three “thematic domains”:
- the level of Societal Safety and Security;
- the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict;
- and the degree of Militarization.
According to this year’s rankings, the United States has dropped from No. 103 to No. 114.
Meanwhile, Myanmar has jumped from No. 114 – where the US currently stands – to No. 104.
The reversal in the two countries’ levels of peacefulness has little to do with their relationship to each other and more to do with things going on within each of them, namely, civil wars and Donald Trump.
“The US’s score has been dragged down largely because of a deterioration in two indicators: level of perceived criminality in society and the intensity of organized internal conflict. The latter measure has deteriorated because of the increased levels of political polarization within the US political system,” the authors of the GPI explain.
“The past year has been a deeply worrying one for the US, with the presidential campaign highlighting the deep divisions within American society,” they write.
Also: “The US also has experienced the fourth largest drop in Positive Peace globally, after Syria, Greece and Hungary, in the ten years to 2015.”
As for Myanmar’s improvement, the GPI attributes it to the NLD and the peace process.
“Following peaceful elections in November 2015, Myanmar has continued to make progress on its overall score. Democratization, and the entrance of a legitimate government (NLD), has helped reduce the likelihood of violent demonstrations and political instability. However, the risk of internal conflict remains as the army continues to have run-ins with ethnic armed groups (EAG), with a peace process gradually developing,” the authors write.
Check out a comparison between the two countries’ peace indicators below, and check out the GPI interactive map to make your own comparisons.
