The sustainable security index: a new measure for research and policy analysis

This article introduces the Sustainable Security Index (SSI), a new measuring tool with the potential to advance research and policy analysis in international security by looking beyond militarised security solutions. The proposed index integrates the multi-dimensional concept of security and sustainability with weighted drivers of instability. Using the index, we rank 168 countries in terms of their contribution to global peace and stability in 2021, with particular attention to their environmental, political and economic governance. The majority of the top ranked countries are in Europe and North America while the lowest scoring countries are in Asia and Africa, highlighting the need to consider regional and global north-south divides. The SSI can encourage discussion about which type and level of intervention may benefit international stability. The Index can also forecast security risks around the world and thus contribute to creating watch lists of countries and regions of concern.