The recently published 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) paints a stark and sobering picture of our world. Far from moving towards greater harmony, the report reveals a fundamental reshaping of the global order, marked by a record decline in peacefulness. We are, quite literally, at an inflection point, with the number of conflicts higher than at any time since World War II, and unsettlingly, becoming increasingly unwinnable and expensive.
The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), who compile the GPI, highlight a worrying trend, The Great Fragmentation. Geopolitical tensions are accelerating, social cohesion is eroding, and an unprecedented 78 countries are now involved in conflicts beyond their borders. This internationalisation of intrastate conflicts has surged by a staggering 175% since 2010. While military expenditure continues to rise globally, investment in conflict prevention has dramatically declined, decreasing by 26% in real terms since 2008. The economic impact of violence alone is colossal, with military spending accounting for a significant portion of the total.
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