What the programme does
Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commits Member States to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development”, and target 16.1 to “significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere”. Outside the United Nations, indices such as the Global Peace Index of the Institute for Economics & Peace track peacefulness across countries; its 2026 edition reports that global peacefulness deteriorated for the twelfth consecutive year. Each measure rests on a definition of peace, stated or implied, and the definitions differ. A measure can only be as clear as the definition it counts.
The Peace Measurement and Indicators programme builds on the common ground identified by the Common Ground for Peace programme. It works to turn that common ground into indicators that can be tested against data, and to compare the measures already in use with it. The Institute’s 2026 article states the definition in measurable form and offers example indicators, which it says “require empirical validation”. This programme is where that work is done. Its indicators feed into the Theory of Change for Global Peace programme.
The word peace is used at many levels. It can mean inner peace within a person, and it can mean peace between nations. The programme applies the account of peace set out in the 2026 article, the Sovereignty of Sentience, to these levels one at a time. It has chosen the three where the work can have the greatest impact: within a person (intrapersonal), between people (interpersonal) and between groups (intergroup). A paper is in preparation for each. Each paper asks what can be observed and measured at its level to show how far peace holds there. Together they test whether the account is not only a coherent way to define peace and violence but also a useful one, because it yields indicators that can be measured. They follow the 2026 article in holding that a place “cannot be judged peaceful only by averaging across a population”.
Outputs
- Three research papers on peace at the intrapersonal level (within a person), the interpersonal level (between people) and the intergroup level (between groups including nations), and how it could be measured at each scale. In preparation.
Where the programme fits
The Institute’s five research programmes form one sequence. The first three together yield the theory of change, and the fifth applies it.
- Concepts and Definitions of PeaceGathers how peace is defined and used in research, law, policy and practice. Its intended output is a systematic record of these definitions, the evidence base for the programmes that follow.
- Common Ground for PeaceCompares those definitions to find what they have in common, including assumptions they make without stating them. Its intended output is a statement of that common ground, precise enough to be tested and critiqued.
- Peace Measurement and IndicatorsWorks out how peace can be observed and measured in practice: within a person, between people and between groups. Its intended output is a set of indicators of peace that can be tested against data.
- Theory of Change for Global PeaceBrings together the definitions, their common ground and its indicators. Its intended output is a comprehensive theory of change for global peace, offered as a starting point for discussion.
- Peace in Law, Policy and InstitutionsApplies the theory of change to law, policy and institutions. Its intended output is an assessment of how far they are aligned with it, and how far they produce peace or violence.