ABSTRACT
The Global Peace Index (GPI) was developed in 2007 by the Institute for Economics and Peace as one of the first rigorous attempts to measure the relative levels of the peacefulness of nations. This resulted in the development of the 'pillars of peace'—an eight-part taxonomy which categorises the data sets that are statistically significant with the GPI. GPI has focused on measuring 'negative peace', which was described by Johan Galtung as the 'absence of violence' and the 'absence of the fear of violence'. Peace is an essential prerequisite because without peace people will never be able to achieve the levels of co-operation, trust, inclusiveness and social equity necessary to solve these challenges, let alone empower the international institutions necessary to address them. Peace lies at the centre of being able to manage the transition, simply because peace creates the optimum environment in which the other activities that contribute to human growth can take place.
