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Global Peace Index reveals highest number of countries engaged in conflict since Second World War
LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today marks the launch of the 18th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) from international think-tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), revealing that the world is at a crossroads. Without concerted effort, there is a risk of a surge in major conflicts.
Key results
- 97 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, more than any year since the inception of the Global Peace Index in 2008.
- Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine were the primary drivers of the global fall in peacefulness, as battle deaths reached 162,000 in 2023.
- 92 countries are currently involved in conflicts beyond their borders, more than at any time since the inception of the GPI.
- First of its kind military scoring system suggests that US military capabilities are up to three times higher than China.
- The global economic impact of violence increased to $19.1 trillion in 2023, representing 13.5% of global GDP. Exposure to conflict poses a significant supply chain risk for governments and businesses.
- Militarisation recorded its largest yearly deterioration since the inception of the GPI, with 108 countries becoming more militarised.
- 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict, with 16 countries now hosting more than half a million refugees.
- North America saw the largest regional deterioration, driven by increases in violent crime and fear of violence.
There are currently 56 conflicts, the most since World War II. They have become more international with 92 countries involved in conflicts outside their borders, the most since the GPI’s inception. The rising number of minor conflicts increases the likelihood of more major conflicts in the future. For example, in 2019, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Gaza were all identified as minor conflicts.
Last year recorded 162,000 conflict related deaths. This was the second highest toll in the past 30 years, with the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza accounting for nearly three-quarters of deaths. Ukraine represented more than half, recording 83,000 conflict deaths, with estimates of at least 33,000 for Palestine up to April 2024. In the first four months of 2024, conflict related deaths globally amounted to 47,000. If the same rate continues for the rest of this year, it would be the highest number of conflict deaths since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
The global economic impact of violence in 2023 was $19.1 trillion or $2,380 per person. This is an increase of $158 billion, driven largely by a 20% increase in GDP losses from conflict. Expenditure on peacebuilding and peacekeeping totalled $49.6 billion, representing less than 0.6% of total military spending.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country, a position it has held since 2008, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore – a new entrant in the top five. Yemen has replaced Afghanistan as the least peaceful country in the world. It is followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remains the least peaceful region. It is home to four of the ten least peaceful countries in the world and the two least peaceful, Sudan and Yemen. Despite this, the UAE recorded the largest improvement in peacefulness in the region – rising 31 places to 53rd in 2024.
Although most indicators of peacefulness deteriorated over the past 18 years, there was an improvement in the homicide rate which fell in 112 countries, while perceptions of criminality improved in 96 countries.
Steve Killelea, Founder & Executive Chairman of IEP, said: “Over the past decade, peacefulness has declined in nine out of the ten years. We are witnessing a record number of conflicts, a rise in militarisation, and heightened international strategic competition. Conflict negatively affects the global economy, and business risk from conflict has never been higher, compounding the current global economic vulnerabilities.
“It is imperative for governments and businesses worldwide to intensify their efforts to resolve the many minor conflicts before they escalate into larger crises. It’s been 80 years since the end of WWII, and the current crises underscore the urgency for world leaders to commit to investing in resolving these conflicts.”
Changing nature of conflicts
As conflicts become more widespread and more internationalised, increasing complexity reduces the likelihood of achieving lasting solutions. Ukraine and Gaza are examples of ongoing historical grievances or ‘forever wars’ without clear resolutions. The number of conflicts resulting in a decisive victory for either side has fallen from 49% in the 1970s, to less than 9% in the 2010s. Over the same period, the number of conflicts that ended through peace agreements fell from 23% to just over 4%.
Another key factor reshaping conflict is the impact of asymmetric warfare technology, making it much easier for non-state groups, as well as smaller or less powerful states, to compete in conflicts with larger states or governments. The number of states using drones rose from 16 to 40, a 150% increase between 2018 and 2023. Over the same period, the number of non-state groups which committed at least one drone attack rose from 6 to 91, an increase of over 1,400%.
Middle East tensions
Due to the Gaza war, Israel’s ranking fell to an all-time low of 155th, the largest deterioration in peacefulness in the 2024 GPI. However, over the past decade Palestine has witnessed the largest deterioration, slipping to 145th. Highlighting the growing tensions, Israeli media stories with a negative sentiment towards Palestinians increased from just over 30% in 1999 to 92% in early 2023, while stories with negative sentiment by Palestinian media towards Israelis increased from just under 30% in 1999 to 85% in early 2023.
The conflict has also thrown the entire Middle East region into crisis, involving Syria, Iran, Lebanon and Yemen, with the economic consequences mounting and a high risk of open warfare. A further broadening of the conflict would severely impact the global economy, potentially triggering a worldwide recession. Highlighting the point, Syria’s economy shrunk by more than 85% after the start of the civil war in 2011, and the Ukrainian economy shrunk by 29% in the year after the onset of the conflict in 2022.
Global military capability
Since the start of the Ukraine war, militarisation has increased in 91 countries, reversing the trend of the prior 15 years. Given the forward commitments of many countries to military spending, it is unlikely to improve in the coming years.
Changes in the dynamics of warfare have seen troop numbers decrease while technological sophistication has increased. Over the last decade, 100 countries reduced their armed forces personnel, while global military capability increased by over 10%.
First of its kind research by IEP calculates the military capability of countries by combining military sophistication, technology, and combat readiness. It reveals that the US has substantially higher military capability than China, which is closely followed by Russia. Traditional approaches to measuring military capability generally count the number of military assets only.
Regional highlights
- Europe remains the most peaceful region, however, it recorded its largest year on year increase in military expenditure since the GPI’s inception.
- North America recorded the largest regional deterioration in peacefulness with a drop of just under 5%. Both the US and Canada saw significant falls, primarily driven by increases in violent crime and fear of violence.
- Sub-Saharan Africa is now the second least peaceful region behind MENA as it faces several security crises – most notably increasing political unrest and terrorism in the Central Sahel.
- Asia-Pacific remains the second most peaceful region with a slight decline in peacefulness. Papua New Guinea recorded the worst deterioration in the region, caused by intensified tribal violence from disputes over territory and land ownership.
- Central America and the Caribbean experienced a minor decline in peacefulness, as countries like Haiti battled high levels of organised crime and civil unrest. Despite this, El Salvador recorded the world’s most significant peace improvement.
- South America experienced the second largest fall in peacefulness with a deterioration of 3.6%. The largest changes occurred for the Homicide Rate, Political Terror Scale, and Intensity of Internal Conflict indicators.
NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information and to download the Global Peace Index 2024, visit visionofhumanity.org and economicsandpeace.org. The full GPI report, articles and interactive maps are available at: visionofhumanity.org
X: @globpeaceindex
Facebook: facebook.com/globalpeaceindex
Instagram: instagram.com/globalpeaceindex
About the Global Peace Index (GPI)
Produced by the international think-tank the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), the GPI report presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to date on peace, its economic value, trends, and how to develop peaceful societies. The report covers 99.7% of the world’s population and uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources to compile the Index. These indicators are grouped into three key domains: Ongoing Conflict, Safety and Security, and Militarisation.
About the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)
IEP is an international and independent think tank dedicated to shifting the world’s focus to peace as a positive, achievable and tangible measure of human well-being and progress. It has offices in Sydney, Brussels, New York, The Hague, Mexico City and Nairobi.
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ROYAL CANADIAN MINT UNVEILS A NEW $1 CIRCULATION COIN HONOURING CANADIAN LITERARY ICON L. M. MONTGOMERY
CAVENDISH, PE, June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Royal Canadian Mint is releasing a new $1 commemorative circulation coin honouring L. M. Montgomery, one of the most prolific and widely read authors in Canadian history. On the 150th anniversary of her birth, this coin pays tribute to Montgomery’s talent and enduring contributions to Canadian and world literature, as well as her role in popularizing Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Canada through her timeless Anne of Green Gables novel series and other memorable works. This coin will start entering circulation on June 27, 2024.
“The Anne of Green Gables novels are iconic works of Canadian literature, and have captivated millions of readers in Canada and around the world,” said The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. “This new coin in tribute to L. M. Montgomery and her literary masterpieces will help keep the story of Anne in our pockets for generations to come.”
“The life and legacy of L. M. Montgomery is the kind of story that belongs on the first circulation coin to celebrate an author,” said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “With her iconic tales of Anne Shirley still being translated into dozens of languages and adapted for stage and screen, we are proud to have represented Montgomery’s story on a coin that will be shared and treasured for generations.”
The coin was unveiled at Green Gables Heritage Place, the family house and farmstead administered by Parks Canada that Montgomery used as the inspiration for the setting of her novel Anne of Green Gables. Its artwork is the creation of Prince Edward Island artist Brenda Jones. It features a profile portrait of the beloved Canadian author
(1874-1942) around the time Anne of Green Gables was written, along with the author’s signature and the cat drawing she often included when signing her name.
To convey the power of Montgomery’s imagination, the coin design flows from the view of the author putting pen to paper (represented by the portfolio and inkwell) to that of Anne Shirley gazing out at PEI farmland – the real-life inspiration for many of Montgomery’s stories. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.
“I greatly admire my grandmother, for her contribution to Canadian literature and culture, her strength of character, and the love, pride and sense of responsibility she gave to my family,” said Montgomery’s granddaughter, Kate Macdonald Butler. “For her to be commemorated on millions of circulation coins is an unimaginable honour and I hope Canadians will cherish it as much as I do, not only for the stories she told, but for the woman she was.”
Born in Clifton, PEI in 1874, L. M. Montgomery published hundreds of short stories and poems, in addition to 20 novels, including the famed: Anne of Green Gables stories. She eventually settled in Toronto, where she died in 1942. Montgomery was finally laid to rest in PEI’s Cavendish Cemetery – a last return to the island she so cherished.
Limited to a mintage of three million coins, of which two million are coloured, this new $1 circulation coin begins circulating on June 27, 2024. It will reach Canadians through their change as bank branches and businesses replenish their coin inventories.
Other collector products adding to this commemoration include coloured and uncoloured special wrap rolls of 25 uncirculated coins each, as well as a fine silver coin.
These collectibles can be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca/LMM.They are also available at the Royal Canadian Mint’s Ottawa and Winnipeg boutiques, as well as through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as well as Canada’s prestigious military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver refining services. As an organization that strives to take better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and governance practices in every aspect of its operations.
For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Images of the circulation coin and collector products are available here.
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NEW YORK, June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Phaidon International, the professional services firm specializing in securing business-critical talent, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Norton as the new Chief People Officer (CPO). This strategic hire reflects Phaidon International’s commitment to accelerating global growth and delivering outstanding results for clients worldwide.
Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in people strategy. With over 20 years of experience, he has held key leadership roles at Campari Group and Broadcom where he played a critical role in driving results through strategic talent initiatives, modernizing the operating model for commercial success.
“We’re thrilled to have Mark Norton join our executive team,” said Harry Youtan, CEO of Phaidon International.
“Mark’s expertise will support our continuing goals to expand our global reach and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Mark’s leadership perfectly aligns with our mission to empower businesses and individuals to achieve their full potential.”
As Chief People Officer, Mark will unite Talent, Human Resources and Training functions under one single roof, to build and execute a strategy aligned to a high-performance growth organization. His leadership will be instrumental in accelerating the business as Phaidon International looks to continue its ambitious growth plans.
“I am excited to join Phaidon International and contribute to its vision,” said Mark.
“I look forward to working with the team to develop forward-thinking people strategies that not only attract and retain top talent but also drive the company’s success in the marketplace.”
This appointment comes at a pivotal time for Phaidon International as it continues to expand its services and solutions to meet the evolving needs of businesses in today’s competitive landscape, strengthening its position as a trusted talent partner and driving growth for clients and professionals globally.
For more information about Phaidon International and its services, please visit phaidoninternational.com.
About Phaidon International
Phaidon International identifies, sources, and delivers business-critical talent to the most innovative industries in the world. Delivering its capabilities through a deliberately curated group of 6 brands, each one specializes in the following industries, where a relentless supply-demand imbalance exists:
Selby Jennings – Financial Sciences & Services
LVI Associates – Energy & Infrastructure
DSJ Global – Supply Chain
EPM Scientific – Life Sciences
Glocomms – Technology
Larson Maddox – Regulatory & Legal
Today, Phaidon International is proud to deliver excellence to clients in over 60 countries, winning over 50 independent awards along the way. Phaidon International is backed by Further Global.
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DAR GLOBAL SETS A NEW BENCHMARK IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY WITH LAUNCH OF THE $500 MILLION TRUMP INTERNATIONAL OMAN IN AIDA
DUBAI, UAE, June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Dar Global, the luxury international real estate developer, introduces Trump International Oman at its expansive AIDA project, one of the world’s largest premium mixed-use real estate developments.
Valued at $500 million, this development includes a luxury hotel, hanging suites, furnished villas, and apartments serviced by the hotel. It features a 18-hole Championship golf course, a members-only club, and the Cliff Hanging Night Club. Opening in December 2028, the 140-key, 5-star hotel complex is beachfront, offering guests complimentary private beach access.
AIDA is a joint venture between Dar Global and the Trump Organization, in partnership with Omran Group, Oman’s executive arm for tourism development. Situated atop a hill over 100 meters high, AIDA boasts panoramic views of rocky canyons and endless beaches.
Ziad El Chaar, CEO, Dar Global, said: “The launch of Trump International Oman in AIDA, signifies a significant leap in our endeavor to build an unmatched hospitality portfolio in the world’s most coveted destinations. Reflecting Dar Global and Trump Organization’s commitment to excellence, this landmark establishment not only sets new standards in international hospitality but also advances Oman’s tourism vision, drawing in a broader audience while stimulating domestic tourism.”
Eric Trump, EVP, The Trump Organization, said: “In collaboration with Dar Global, we proudly introduce Trump International Oman in AIDA, ushering in a new era of style, service, and exclusivity with the renowned Trump standard. This partnership reflects our shared dedication to crafting iconic luxury experiences for discerning travelers and investors, enhancing Oman’s prominence as a premier global destination.”
Unique to Trump International in Oman are picturesque hanging suites with private pools and ensuite bathrooms offering sweeping views. Complementing the golfing lifestyle are a training academy and a members-only club with exclusive amenities for networking and social events. The Cliff Hanging Night Club, a first in the ME, offers an unrivalled setting for bespoke events and celebrations. Other amenities include diverse dining options, banqueting and meeting facilities, and an expansive SPA.
Disclaimer: Trump International Oman is not owned, developed or sold by The Trump Organization or any of their current or former principals or affiliates. Dar Al Arkan Property Development SPC, the owner and developer of the property, uses the “Trump” name and mark under license, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.
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