The world has become less peaceful over the last year, despite a drop in the number of armed conflicts, according to this year’s Global Peace Index (GPI).
Figures published on Tuesday showed that homicide rates and violent crime had increased around the world, particularly in Latin America, where levels of peacefulness showed the biggest slip over the past 12 months.
The GPI has been published annually for the last four years by the Institute for Economics and Peace, a global think tank that researches the relationship between economics, business and peace.
The rankings, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), are calculated using 23 indicators, such as violent crime, political stability and military expenditure, correlated against a number of social development indicators, such as corruption, freedom of the press, respect for human rights and school enrollment rates.
Figures show that Africa has become the most improved region of the world for peacefulness over the last four years. The continent has experienced fewer conflicts, less military spending and improved cross-border relations. However, sub-Saharan Africa still remains one of the planet’s least peaceful areas, with nine states featuring in the bottom 20 countries listed.
For the second year running, New Zealand is rated the most peaceful country in the world, with Iceland climbing back up to second place, after dropping from the top slot in 2008 to fourth place last year. Japan was ranked third.
TAIWAN
Taiwan ranked 35th. In comparison, Taiwan was ranked 36th in 2007, 44th in 2008 and 37th last year. In several key indicators, Taiwan has remained within a narrow range near the high end of the scale since 2007 — civil liberties (9.7 to 9.71 out of 10, with 10 being the best), functioning government (consistent 7.5 out of 10), electoral process (from 9.6 to 9.58 out of 10) and political democracy (7.8 to 7.82 out of 10).
However, in corruption perceptions it remains middle-of-the-range, with some slippage (from 5.9 to 5.6 out of 10).
Meanwhile, freedom of the press has declined from 10.5 (out of 100, with zero being the most free) to 15.8 — compared with the US’ improvement from 13 to 4 over the same period and China’s slight improvement from 89 to 84.5.
The Middle East has also shown improvements in its levels of peacefulness since 2006, largely through decreasing military spending and improved relations between states.
However, South Asia has become the most volatile area over the last four years, mainly because of increased involvement in conflicts and human rights abuses. This year, Pakistan was ranked 145 out of the 149 states listed and India ranked 129, evidence, said Steve Killelea, founder of the GPI, of the impact of the war on terror.
Fifteen of the top 20 countries are Western or central European states and all Scandinavian countries are listed in the top 10, suggesting that small, stable, democratic countries are the most peaceful.
The US dropped two places to 85, largely because of its military expenditure, high prison population and increasing rates of violent crime and homicide.
For the fourth year running, Iraq was found to be the least peaceful country, followed by Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan. Russia ranked 143rd.
In a sense, the GPI make a case for peace — putting a monetary value on peace in terms of business growth and economic development. The index authors estimate that the total economic impact of an end to violence could have been US$28.2 trillion between 2006 and last year. A 25 percent reduction in global violence would add an annual US$1.85 trillion to the global economy.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS