PHL still among ‘least peaceful countries’ in world, Asia Pacific – survey

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — The country remains among the “least peaceful” in the world and the Asia Pacific, improving only slightly in its global ranking, a survey by a non-profit research organization showed.

The Global Peace Index 2013, released this week by the Institute for Economics and Peace, showed the Philippines placing 129th among 162 countries surveyed, a six-notch improvement over its ranking of 133 in 2012 and 135 a year before that,

“Last year saw improved prospects for peace between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front … when a framework deal for a potential peace agreement was signed,” the GPI said.

And while noting that, “there are many obstacles to lasting peace … negotiations appear to be on-track in 2013.”

Nevertheless, the Philippines remained “among the least peaceful countries in Asia Pacific,” along with Thailand and Myanmar, which “all face ongoing internal civil conflict.”

The GPI 2013 also ranked the Philippines 86th, a “low” grade in its State of Positive Peace, with an overall score of 3.266 in its Positive Peace Index, which is based on what the IEP calls “eight pillars of peace.”

These “highly interconnected and interacting in varied and complex ways to form either virtuous or vicious cycles with causality running both ways,” are:
1.a well-functioning government
2.a sound business environment
3.equitable distribution of resources
4.acceptance of the rights of others
5.good relations with neighbors
6.free flow of information
7.high levels of human capital
8.low levels of corruption

Under these criteria, the Philippines’ highest score was 4.427 for low levels of corruption, followed by a score of 4.239 for sound business environment. Its lowest score was 2.707 for equitable distribution of resources.

The GPI listed the least peaceful countries as Afghanistan (162), Somalia (161), Syria (160), Iraq (159), Sudan (158), Pakistan (157), Democratic Republic of Congo (156), Russia (155), North Korea (154) and Central African Republic (153).

Iceland was the most peaceful country, thanks largely to its political stability, low homicide rate and small prison population, with Western European nations dominating the top 10:
•Denmark
•New Zealand
•Austria
•Switzerland
•Japan
•Finland
•Canada
•Sweden
•Belgium

In the Asia Pacific region, where New Zealand landed on top, the Philippines ranked 16th, ahead of Thailand (17), Myanmar (18) and North Korea (19).

Overall, the IEP noted that 110 states became less peaceful and only 48 became more so.

Cost of ‘unpeace’

The GPI also estimated the impact of violence — assessed in major part by the costs in defense and internal security — on the global economy in 2012 came to at least US$9.46 trillion, or 11 percent of the gross world product.

This was nearly double the value of the world’s total food production.

“Were the world to reduce its expenditure on violence by approximately 50 percent it could repay the debt of the developing world (US$4.076 billion), provide enough money for the European stability mechanism (US$900 billion) and fund the additional amount required to achieve the annual cost of the Millennium Development Goals (US$60 billion),” it said.

The report also found a correlation between those countries hardest hit by the 2008 global financial crisis and a decline in their peacefulness compared to those countries that were not as badly affected

“Cuts to public services and social protection, alongside increasing unemployment, has led to increases in violent demonstrations, violent crime, and perceptions of criminality in many countries,” it said. –Bong D. Fabe, InterAksyon.com