Global Peace Index

[Kuken]

http://www.visionofhumanity.com/index.php

Executive summary

The Economist Intelligence Unit, in conjunction with an international team of academics and peace experts, has compiled an innovative new Global Peace Index (GPI), which ranks 120 nations according to their relative peacefulness. The Global Peace Index is composed of 24 indicators, ranging from a nation’s level of military expenditure to its relations with neighbouring countries and the level of respect for human rights. The index has been tested against a range of potential “drivers” or determinants of peace—including levels of democracy and transparency, education and material wellbeing. The team has used the latest available figures (mainly 2004-06) from a wide range of respected sources, including the International Institute of Strategic Studies, The World Bank, various UN offices and Peace Institutes and the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Global Peace Index is intended to contribute significantly to the public debate on peace.

Peace index scores from 1 to 5 where 1=most peaceful.

1. Norway 1.357
2. New Zealand 1.363
3. Denmark 1.377
...
49. United Kingdom 1.898
...
60. China 1.980
...
96. United States of America 2.317
...
118. Russia 2.903
...
121. Iraq 3.437 (last)

http://www.visionofhumanity.com/rankings/

[Kuken]

I was surprised about the US score.
But they get 5 points for stuff like deployments (UN and non-UN) and military capability/sophistication.
And for number of jailed population per 100,000 people

[Jon Miller]

Take that China!

JM

[aneeshm]

levels of democracy and transparency, education and material wellbeing.

That's a rubbish methodology.

None of these are necessary for peace and stability.

[Winston]

Seems like a meaningless set of indicators mixed together to produce an equally meaningless comparison of countries in vastly dissimilar circumstances.

And as usual with these so-called academic studies intended for publication in the mass media, I have a sneaking suspicion that the criteria for the scores and comparison were conveniently set up partially in order to seemingly "discredit" the United States in the eyes of the world.

So in conclusion,

[Kuken]

It's also a bit strange that the more UN peacekeeping missions a country participates in, the less peaceful it is...

[Kuken]

Originally posted by aneeshm


That's a rubbish methodology.

None of these are necessary for peace and stability.

define 'peace' then

[Zevico]

peace experts

What exactly is a peace expert?

[Ecthy]

Russia has less peace than China and Taiwan? The potential destabilization there is immense.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Kuken


define 'peace' then

A lack of violence? The presence of physical security? An absence of crime?

[Will9]

This is just a librally biased study to try and prove that Bush is an evil dictator that wants to take over the world.

First of all, how the Hell does Iran get by the US when its leader has said his mission is global chaos. Iran should be at the bottom of the list, not 97th.

Prison population should give a better score since that country is not a corupt criminal controled country and can control violence. Another thing, UN missions mean that a country is less peaceful, aren't UN missions stopping violence.

Kuken, Russia's score is 2.903

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Kuken
It's also a bit strange that the more UN peacekeeping missions a country participates in, the less peaceful it is...

QFT

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Zevico

What exactly is a peace expert?

I can suggest nothing else than a guy who survided a war.

[DAVOUT]

Certain criteria are surprising:
- Extent of regional integration very low=1
UK 1
GERMANY 1
FRANCE 1
SWITZERLAND 2
RUSSIA 2
US 4
- Paramilitary
France 105000 ???
Switzerland 100000
Russia 416000
China 4 millions
US 0
UK 0
GERMANY 0

[Kuken]

Originally posted by Will9

Prison population should give a better score since that country is not a corupt criminal controled country and can control violence.

Kuken, Russia's score is 2.903

It could also mean there is more violence in the country... Some countries have very little violence to begin with and therefore a low prison population.

Thanks, corrected!