Global Peace Index, COVID-19 and Trade for Peace

In the first half of 2020 the world has suffered an unprecedented number of geopolitical, diplomatic and pandemic shocks. Unless the world is more peaceful, we will never get the trust, cooperation and inclusiveness to solve these issues — yet what creates peace is poorly understood. In this June round up, we share updates on our mission to help create a world that is more peaceful and fulfilling. Hear from our regional offices, read a snapshot of the 2020 Global Peace Index and the new COVID-19 and Peace report, as well as their respective global online launches.

The Global Peace Index 2020 launched in June, with the report outlining key highlights, global rankings, regional overviews as well as country improvements and deterioration. The research also focuses on trends, from 2008 until 2019. Uniquely, this edition will cover three new topics: trends in civil unrest, ecological threats, and the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the new topics this year is civil unrest, with 2019 seeing a number of large civil unrest events across the world. The research also looks at civil unrest over time and whether events like this are becoming more frequent and more violent.

The last new topic that the GPI looks at is the Ecological Threat Register (ETR) that IEP has developed. The register combines a set of ecological risks with Positive Peace and economic coping capacity, to better understand where future potential risks and fragilities may occur. The ETR illustrates the intersection between ecological risk and societal risk, which can impact on economic performance and peace. Trends will be estimated through to 2050. 

Simultaneously, IEP also launched the COVID-19 & Peace report. In this report, IEP outlines the global impact of the pandemic, resilience and coping capabilities of countries, and changes in socio-economic systems and in patterns of conflict and violence. It also examines key aspects of the post-pandemic world and comments on forward-looking initiatives to reshape the global economy.

From the offices

Our New York office has expanded partnerships with NewGen Peacebuilders and Footprint App to make our reports, such as the upcoming Ecological Threat Register (ETR) available to high schools in 50 states. Click here to express interest in receiving educational materials.

Organised by our Brussels office, on 16 June, Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman of IEP was joined by Ambassador Alan Wolff, the Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, to discuss the new findings of the 2020 Global Peace Index and the Trade for Peace initiative.