The results of the Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2010 suggest that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the past year.
The GPI, which gauges ongoing domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society and militarization in 149 countries, registered overall increases in several indicators, including the likelihood of violent demonstrations and perceptions of criminality. In some nations, an intensification of conflicts and growing instability appears to be linked to the global economic downturn in late 2008 and early 2009.
The concept of peace is notoriously difficult to define. The simplest way of defining it is in terms of harmony achieved by the absence of war or conflict. This is “Negative Peace” .