Peace. It’s Your Business. November 23, 2011

Humanity for economic prosperity.

Usually, a study of peace is really a focus on conflict. Since 2007, however, a Global Peace Index ranks 153 countries measuring 23 indicators including income, social sustainability, spending, warring, climate change, amount spent on weapons, safety, respect for human rights, education and distribution of resources. The top-rated countries in this index provide an opportunity to study the structure of peaceful nations, and the tools we need to determine the peacefulness and economic environment we can create for our own future.

A nation’s inequalities define its functionality and have a direct impact on its economy. As the Institute for Economics and Peace claims, violence—both internal and external—creates costs for business and government and reduces productivity. This seems obvious, but it translates into billions of dollars. Had the U.S., which ranked 82nd on the GPI, similar levels of peacefulness to Canada, ranking 8^th, the U.S. economy would have benefitted by $361 billion per year, and would have stimulated about 2.7 million additional jobs, reducing our unemployment rate by about 20%. In turn, arts and business would also flourish.

The strength of a society’s peace factor determines the likelihood that the society can withstand serious crises. Social sustainability structures are outlined in this short video:

Interestingly, the two social sustainability structures that carry the most weight are Acceptance of the Rights of Others, and Good Relations with Neighbors. The U.S. could begin it’s climb up the index ladder by focusing on these two notions.

For the first time, the United States was ranked according to state and based upon the absence of violence.

Image by ChartsBin.com

We, each of us, can shape our own future both individually and collectively. Ignoring the data for structure of peace would be irresponsible and detrimental to our economic future. We are now at the precipice. How unwise it would be to let another year pass in the same direction we’ve been heading. Our federal government is losing stability and has become an unreliable factor. We, as people and institutions, must start going about the business of peace and hope the government will join us, as it is a necessary indicator on the index. We must rely on ourselves to accomplish peace. Don’t think as an individual you can make much of a difference? Let this woman be your inspiration.

Global Peace Index 2011

1. Iceland
2. New Zealand
3. Japan
4. Denmark
5. Czech Republic
6. Austria
7. Finland
8. Canada
9. Norway
10. Slovenia
11. Ireland
12. Qatar
13. Sweden
14. Belgium
15. Germany
16. Switzerland
17. Portugal
18. Australia
19. Malaysia
20. Hungary
21. Uruguay
22. Poland
23. Slovakia
24. Singapore
25. Netherlands
26. United Kingdom
27. Taiwan
28. Spain
29. Kuwait
30. Vietnam
31. Costa Rica
32. Laos
33. United Arab Emirates
34. Bhutan
35. Botswana
36. France
37. Croatia
38. Chile
39. Malawi
40. Romania
41. Oman
42. Ghana
43. Lithuania
44. Tunisia
45. Italy
46. Latvia
47. Estonia
48. Mozambique
49. Panama
50. South Korea
51. Burkina Faso
52. Zambia
53. Bulgaria
54. Namibia
55. Argentina
56. Tanzania
57. Mongolia
58. Morocco
59. Moldova
60. Bosnia and Hercegovina
61. Sierra Leone
62. The Gambia
63. Albania
64. Jordan
65. Greece
66. Paraguay
67. Cuba
68. Indonesia
69. Ukraine
70. Swaziland
71. Cyprus
72. Nicaragua
73. Egypt
74. Brazil
75. Equatorial Guinea
76. Bolivia
77. Senegal
78. Macedonia
79. Trinidad and Tobago
80. China
81. Gabon
82. United States of America
83. Bangladesh
84. Serbia
85. Peru
86. Cameroon
87. Angola
88. Guyana
89. Montenegro
90. Ecuador
91. Dominican Republic
92. Guinea
93. Kazakhstan
94. Papua New Guinea
95. Nepal
96. Liberia
97. Uganda
98. Congo
99. Rwanda
100. Mali
101. Saudi Arabia
102. El Salvador
103. Tajikistan
104. Eritrea
105. Madagascar
106. Jamaica
107. Thailand
108. Turkmenistan
109. Armenia
110. Uzbekistan
111. Kenya
112. Belarus
113. Haiti
114. Kyrgyz Republic
115. Cambodia
116. Syria
117. Honduras
118. (blank)
119. Iran
120. Niger
121. Mexico
122. Azerbaijan
123. Bahrain
124. Venezuela
125. Guatemala
126. Sri Lanka
127. Turkey
128. Cote d’Ivoire
129. Algeria
130. Maruitania
131. Ethiopia
132. Burundi
133. Myanmar
134. Georgia
135. India
136. Philippines
137. Lebanon
138. Yemen
139. Colombia
140. Zimbabwe
141. Chad
142. Nigeria
143. Libya
144. Central African Republic
145. Israel
146. Pakistan
147. Russia
148. Democratic Republic of Congo
149. North Korea
150. Afghanistan
151. Sudan
152. Iraq
153. Somalia