The security component of the CDI compares rich countries on military actions that affect developing countries. Countries are given credit for financial and personnel contributions to UN-run or internationally sanctioned peacekeeping and humanitarian interventions, efforts to protect and secure sea lanes for global trade and participating in international security treaties and regimes such as the International Criminal Court. Countries are penalised for exporting weapons to undemocratic countries with heavy military spending.
Europe's Security Policies
Europe’s top performers on Security
Denmark |
Positions naval fleet to protect sea lanes vital for international trade |
Norway |
Highest per capita financial and personnel contributions to internationally sanctioned peacekeeping and humanitarian interventions in the CDI |
Ireland |
Few arms exports to poor and undemocratic governments |
Finland |
Significant financial and personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping operations over the last decade |
Europe’s lowest performers on Security
Sweden |
Highest arms exports by share of GDP to poor and undemocratic governments in the CDI |
Czech Republic |
Has not ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) |
Netherlands |
High level of arms exports to poor and undemocratic governments |
Spain |
Small financial and personnel contributions to internationally sanctioned peacekeeping and humanitarian interventions over the last decade |
Europe’s overall score on the security component has steadily decreased since 2007, and Europe is now outperformed by all other CDI countries other than South Korea.
For more on security, explore the fragile states topic, related publications, and experts.
Read the Europe Beyond Aid Working Paper.