Re: Peace

"Crime and corruption are common features of any area where poverty is rampant"

There is certainly a correlation between crime and poverty, but it is difficult to say with certainty which causes which. Some studies have found, for example, a high correlation between economic growth and how well a group treats outsiders. In particular, I recall reading about research into - IIRC - several native communities in Peru with a similar background, but in some towns the local tradition was to treat the property rights of outsiders with the same respect given to locals, and in other towns the local tradition was to cheat outsiders whenever possible.

As you might expect, the towns where outsiders were cheated stagnated economically, whereas the towns where property rights were respected prospered. Why? Simply because outsiders were more likely to do business with with honest people, and do so over and over again, and recommend those towns to others as good places to do business - to the mutual benefit of all parties.