Many events such as the worsening conflicts in Syria and the growing civil arrest in Europe may make it seem like the world is getting equipped for war. However, a study showed recently pointed the opposite. This study even highlights one of the most problematic regions, Africa.
The Global Peace Index showed its first developments only in two years. The credits may be fully given to the producer of the Global Peace Index which is the Australia and US-based Institute for Economics. For the first time in a very long time the sub-Saharan Africa area was no longer last on the list when it comes to the world’s most peaceful regions. This can be attributed to the fact that the region lost its unconvincing distinction to North Africa and Middle East after the “Arab Spring”.
The research composed of 23 indicators, from involvement in armed conflict and relations with neighbours to measures of civil unrest and crime military expenses. When the decline in the Middle East is set aside, every other region in the world is deemed to have improved in the past year.
Steve Killelea, an Australian businessman who is the man behind the first index six years ago, initiated this meaningful survey. Killelea said that there are numerous drivers to the situation that the world is in now. In a nutshell, the global military spending seemed like it was beginning to fall which, of course, can be somehow attributed to the global financial crisis. Along side this, international relationships were improving and thankfully, leaders were resulting to diplomacy instead of violence.
An interview in Reuter was done in London and Killelia said “the improvement in the relation with the states and a greater reluctance to resort to war is very profound.” He said that this is can be seen particularly in Africa.
Killelia said that the improvements in Africa were very profound. In fact, the whole world is now reluctant, more than ever, to result to war. He knows this because of the fact that he has been to Uganda some 15 years ago when the country was fighting 4 wars in comparison to today where there are no wars at all.
In contrary, Syria has manifested the most fall down because of the uprising of Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad has resulted to bloody solutions which can be proven by several massacres reported in the past week. The “Arab Spring” obviously made the world less peaceful for 2011 and economic hardships were reported to drive global unrest for 2010. In that short time span of 2 years, three years of progress in peace was undone. It is safe to say that the world was exactly like what it was 6 years ago.
Relations in Latin America, specifically between Venezuela and Colombia is an indicator of peace as well despite China having rivalries with the US regarding arms race and geopolitical issues. Europe has a mix of its ups and downs this year with Greece sliding down and Iceland remaining on top in spite of financial crisis.
These conflicts are unpredictable according to Killelea but he hopes that the world remains resilient.