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Although various definitions of peace appear in the literature, there is no consensus on a conceptually clear definition to guide researchers in developing measurement procedures and indicators. This article proposes a definition of peace and develops guidelines for operationalizing the definition and establishing measurement procedures with specific indicators. Peace is defined as a two-dimensional construct with both objective and subjective measures that must be studied within specific micro to macro contexts. A measurement model is proposed and direction is given to developing specific indicators for the elements of that model.

The Clark University Conference on Assessing Cultures of Peace, held in September 2001, focused on the issues outlined in the “Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace” (United Nations [UN], 1999). One conclusion drawn from the animated discussion among the assembled scholars was that the notion of peace should be distinguished from the notion of a culture of peace, and that a measurement of peacefulness should be developed that is independent of an assessment of culture. The question of how to define peace, however, was not resolved.

The following discussion emerges from this issue of defining peace. Although the definition of peace has been discussed (see, e.g., the survey of definitions and definitional issues in Rapoport, 1999) and a number of definitions have been proposed (see, e.g., Fogarty, 2000; Galtung, 1969; Groff, 2001b; Peace Forum, 2000, 2001), there has been no focused effort to develop a conceptually rigorous definition that guides researchers to develop valid, reliable, and useful measures.

This article takes a purely conceptual approach, submitting a definition of peace for analysis and evaluation. Based on this definition, guidelines for measurement are proposed and suggestions are made for developing indicators of peace. Although it is beyond the scope of this article...