Researching Peace in 2015

We’d also like to say a special thank you to our International Advisory Council members, Research Committee and Board of Directors, as well as to the Panel of Experts who each year help us review the Global Peace Index. 

2015 resulted in a record number of product releases, including our landmark Global Peace Index. Other reports included the Global Terrorism Index, which highlighted an 80% increase in terrorist activities worldwide; the Mexico Peace Index which found that investments in peace in Mexico must address corruption and social cohesion; the Peace and Corruption report which explored how corruption constrains economic development and peace; whilst, a new edition of our Positive Peace report highlighted the resilience of peaceful societies. 

In early October we held the inaugural Positive Peace conference in California, highlighting the growing interest in investing in and understanding violence prevention. Over 100 people, representing high level positions in the worlds of theory, policy, and practice around Positive Peace, traveled to Stanford University to participate. We were thrilled by the enthusiasm and interest during the day-long discussion.

What's even more exciting is that IEP, in conjunction with the Zimbabwe National Peace Trust, completed a six month regional exercise to find achievable recommendations on implementing Positive Peace in Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa region. The initiative culminated in a conference opened by the Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.       

In 2015 we were delighted to announce our new partnership with Rotary International, as we set out to select the best and brightest Rotary Peace Fellows and alumni to act as Global Peace Ambassadors, presenting our research in Rotary districts globally.

We’ve selected 135 Global Peace Ambassadors from around the world - from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, Pakistan to Paraguay. Despite diverse backgrounds, they all have one thing in common: a passion to see peace as a real, tangible and achievable goal.  

2016 will be a big year at IEP. We’ll celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Global Peace Index (wow, has it been 10 years already?!), kick off our Global Peace Ambassador program, release new research on peace in Mexico, peace in Europe, and the global cost of violence, as well as examine how Positive Peace works on the ground through a series of workshops in places like Myanmar, Uganda and Colombia.
 
We’ll also be speaking at a number of events throughout the year, kicking off with the Rotary ‘Peace Starts With You’ conference in Ontario, California from 15-16 January. Places are still available for this exciting opportunity to share ideas with experts in peace and conflict resolution. 

As we go forward into 2016, we appreciate your continued support. As we witness increasing acts of violence, from terrorism to homicides, it is imperative that we continue to work towards our goal of understanding the drivers of peace. We hope that you will consider making a donation of any size today towards the work of the Institute for Economics and Peace.