The short answer is… everywhere!

It exists everywhere for two main reasons. The first is that, even amongst communities with low levels of risk-factors overall, it would be rare to find a community with no risk-factors. The second, is because the reason for an absence of some risk-factors may well be because of the presence of Proactive Peace Work. In fact, these sorts of successes are the exact sort of thing that Proactive Peace seeks to highlight.

A good analogy is public health. Public health exists everywhere. In some places, the role of public health appears obvious, because there are so many health risk-factors to address. However in communities with few health risk-factors, public health is present because it is likely the reason that there are few risk-factors.

For example, first consider a community that has: highly processed foods, car-based transport, air pollution, high smoking rates, unreliable sewers, and no neonatal and infant health care. It is likely to have issues with: heart disease, lung disease, cholera and infant and child mortality rates. The role of public health here is to address these health risk-factors, and change the status quo of poor health.

Now consider a community that has: affordable fruit and veg, walkable cities, clean air, low smoking rates, good quality public sewers, and free, quality neonatal and infant health care. It is far less likely to have issues with: heart disease, lung disease, cholera and infant and child mortality. Not only is there an absence of disease though, but there is likely the presence of good health. Public health is present here and is really successful. It’s primary on going role is to keep this status quo of good health in place.

It is similar with Proactive Peace. Proactive Peace Work is important in communities with high levels of conflict risk-factors, because of the need to address these risk-factors before violence is able to take root.

In communities with low levels of conflict-risk factors, even though violence may be unlikely, Proactive Peace Work is just as important because it is likely the reason for these low risk-factor levels, and the reason for high levels of peace. Acknowledging, maintaining, and where possible, improving this Proactive Peace Work is crucial.