Is peace breaking out? Charles Hanley reports on the soon to be released 2004 yearbook from the Stockholm Internal Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Since 1991 the number of major armed conflicts has dropped from 33 to 19. SIPRI defines a major armed conflict as one in which there are over 1000 battle related deaths in a single year.
Reasons for this decline include a decline in turmoil following the end of the cold war, removal of superpower support for “proxy wars” and mobilization of the UN and regional bodies for peacemaking.
Before anyone gets overexcited, recall that Hanley isn’t really announcing the arrival of peace, just the decline in warfare. It ishowever, time to rededicate ourselves the Bishop’s motto: “If you want peace, work for justice”.
Comments