Signature Projects

Strategic Peace Index (SPI) for Bangladesh and South Asia: 

The Strategic Peace Index (SPI) is a pioneering annual research initiative that systematically evaluates peace, stability, and conflict risks across South Asia, starting with Bangladesh. The SPI captures multiple dimensions, including conflict and violence, democratic backsliding, maritime and border security, climate-security risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and a new focus on misinformation and disinformation (MDI).

The project will integrate existing, open-source datasets (e.g., ACLED, V-Dem, EM-DAT, GDELT, IFCN fact-checks) to develop a composite index and generate monthly updates by tracking key developments across each dimension. Undergraduate fellows and research interns, under the close supervision of the Director and with the support of research associates, will form dedicated data pods tasked with collecting, cleaning, and coding indicators. They will work either voluntarily or for academic credit. This structure ensures minimal operational costs while building local analytical capacity.

Key activities include:

• Conflict and Violence Mapping: Using event datasets to track trends in political violence, communal tensions, and border incidents.

• Democratic and Authoritarian Trend Scoring: Leveraging governance indices and real-time signals such as media restrictions or internet shutdowns.

• Maritime and Border Security Indicators: Monitoring piracy, cross-border clashes, and trade vulnerabilities.

• Climate Risk and Displacement Dashboards: Tracking climate disasters, displacement, and compound climate–conflict events.

• Misinformation/Disinformation Monitoring: Aggregating data from fact-checkers, transparency reports, and GDELT to measure disinformation intensity and resilience.

• Policy Recommendation Matrix: Translating monthly SPI movements into actionable policy briefs for ministries, media, and international organizations.

Outputs will include an Annual SPI Report, an interactive online map and dashboards, and monthly “SPI Now” briefs. The project will serve as a flagship data-driven initiative to inform policy, highlight risk factors, and promote peace and stability in South Asia.