February 24, 2016, published in Vision of Humanity

Nepal, Rwanda, Myanmar, Cote d’Ivoire and Georgia all made major gains in Positive Peace in the five year period from 2005 to 2015.

Positive Peace represents the structures, institutions and attitudes that create and maintain peaceful societies. The Institute for Economics and Peace identified eight key factors that sustain peaceful societies: well-functioning government, equitable distribution of resources, sound business environment, high levels of human capital, acceptance of the rights of others, low levels of corruption, free flow of information, and good relations with neighbours.

By focusing on these factors, post-conflict countries can strengthen their resilience to build and maintain peace and stability.

Myanmar

Myanmar progressed significantly faster than the global average on two factors of Positive Peace: free flow of information and sound business environment. It also improved on high levels of human capital, acceptance of the rights of others, and low levels of corruption, although at a slower pace.

Nepal

Nepal saw large gains in the free flow of information, equitable distribution of resources and acceptance of the rights of others. High levels of human capital also increased faster than the global average.

Cote d’Ivoire

Cote d’Ivoire had large gains in free flow of information. With smaller improvements, although still higher than the global average, in well-functioning government and low levels of corruption. However the nation also saw a decline in the equitable distribution of resources.

Rwanda

Low levels of corruption, equitable distribution of resources and sound business environment improved dramatically over the past five years in Rwanda.

Georgia

In Georgia, good relations with neighbours and free flow of information saw large improvements, far outstripping the global average. Sound business environment and well-functioning government also improved significantly. However, low levels or corruption and acceptance of the rights of others declined.

Read the original article here.