The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP),[1] chaired by entrepreneur Steve Killelea,[2] is a global non-profit research organization headquartered in Sydney, Australia with a branch in New York. IEP was established to conduct research on the intersections between business, peace and economic development; to publicize its research findings widely; and to disseminate educational materials based on its work; creating the paradigm that peace is a pre-requisite for the survival of humanity.[3] The IEP works in partnership with a number of think tanks, NGOs and academic institutions including the Aspen Institute,[4] Economists for Peace and Security [5] the United Nations Global Compact, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Cranfield University.
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The core asset of the IEP is the Global Peace Index (GPI), which is now considered the benchmark study in measuring peace.[6][7] The GPI has been recognized by leading analysts and institutions, and has been incorporated into reports such as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Year Book (2009),[8] and is being analyzed by the World Bank's World Development Report 2011 team.[9] The data for the Global Peace Index is collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU),[10] the research and analysis arm of the Economist Group, and the methodology is informed and reviewed by an international panel of peace and statistics experts.[11] The GPI is released annually with presentations in London, Washington, D.C. and at the United Nations. In 2009, the events took place at Central Hall Westminster in London[12] and the Center for Strategic and International Studies[13] in Washington D.C. In addition, the GPI was the empirical basis for the Symposium of Peaceful Nations, a 3-day conference hosted in November 2009 to honor the most peaceful countries in each of nine regions of the world[14] at which Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, delivered the keynote address.[15]
The IEP launched education program with the release of Building Blocks of Peace,[16] a 4-module curriculum resource that offers step-by-step guidance for high school teachers to introduce "a fresh perspective to the issues surrounds global peace" into the classroom.[17][18] Presented at both regional and national conferences, the Building Blocks of Peace materials are an addition to the resources available to teachers dedicated to educating global citizens. These modules are available to download for free on the web.[19]
On October 26, 2010, The Institute for Economics and Peace and Media Tenor released “Measuring Peace in the Media”, the first study that takes a fact-based approach into understanding the accuracy of international television networks’ coverage of peace, violence and conflict.[20]
The results show broad inconsistencies across geographies and networks, with US broadcasters much more focused on violence and conflict than their European and Middle Eastern counterparts. Al Jazeera was found to be the network providing the most balanced coverage on Afghanistan. BBC World led the way when it came to breadth of coverage. It regularly reported on 67 countries across six continents which is nearly twice as many countries as the average level of coverage.
The study analysed 37 TV news and current affairs programmes from 23 networks in 15 countries* and then cross-referenced this with the Global Peace Index which measures the levels of peace and violence in 149 countries. BBC 2 Newsnight and ZDF Heute Journal were found to be the programmes whose editorial policies aligned their coverage most closely with the rankings of the GPI.
Positive-peace stories make up just 1.6% of the total number of stories examined in the study. These are stories that report on active steps taken to rectify violent situations. Such a small percentage may be partly related to what is considered newsworthy and dramatic, such as high-impact, violent or controversial events. However, the stereotyping of nations which are low on the GPI makes it harder for audiences to gain empathy and therefore to support governments and make headway towards creating peace.
On the 6th of April 2011, the IEP launched the US peace index, the first ever index to rank States in the US by their peacefulness.