Working For Peace Works

Gareth Evans, the former prime minister of Australia says in the LA Times:

Contrary to what just about everybody instinctively believes, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of conflicts, down 40% since the early 1990s. There were just 25 armed secessionist conflicts underway in 2004, the lowest number since 1976, according to the meticulously documented Human Security Report 2005, a new multi-government study (www.humansecurityreport.info).

Why the decrease?

Peacekeeping forces help keep the peace. Go figure.