Economic unrest making world less peaceful: survey

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/us-world-peace-idUSTRE74O5J720110525

(Reuters) - Social unrest is making the world less peaceful for the third year running and economic strains could point to rising risks in China, a think tank said on Wednesday.

The Global Peace Index -- which tracks 23 indicators from military spending to crime levels to conflict and disputes with neighbors -- showed economic factors are at the heart of unrest including the "Arab Spring."

Rising food prices have helped trigger revolts in Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere, with some leading to serious bloodshed, while austerity measures in Europe have also helped bring protesters on the streets.

There were some positive trends too. Despite conflict in Ivory Coast and Libya and cross-border tensions between North and South Korea, interstate wars are generally becoming less common and relations among countries are improving.