Peace Economics: The Structural Elimination of Conflict Preconditions

A Systems Analysis of the Liana Banyan “Book of Peace” Architecture

Authors: Liana Banyan Research Division
Date: February 2, 2026
Version: 1.0

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical and practical framework for “Peace Economics” — the systematic elimination of conflict preconditions through economic architecture rather than diplomatic intervention. Drawing on the Liana Banyan platform’s sixteen-initiative structure, we demonstrate how poverty, ignorance, and lack of opportunity can be addressed through structural design, creating conditions where conflict becomes economically irrational. The paper introduces the “Book of Peace” taxonomy — a knowledge architecture organized around peace-building categories — and proposes metrics for measuring structural peace creation.

Keywords: peace economics, conflict preconditions, economic architecture, mutual aid, structural design, knowledge systems

1. Introduction

1.1 The Problem with Traditional Peace Approaches

Traditional approaches to peace fall into three categories:

Each approach addresses conflict after it emerges or during its occurrence. None systematically addresses the conditions that make conflict likely in the first place.

1.2 The Peace Economics Hypothesis

We propose an alternative framework:

Hypothesis: When the structural preconditions of conflict (poverty, ignorance, lack of opportunity) are systematically removed through economic design, conflict becomes economically irrational and therefore less likely to occur or persist.

This is not a claim that conflict will disappear — human irrationality will always exist. Rather, we claim that systemic support for conflict can be eliminated through architecture.

1.3 The Liana Banyan Case Study

The Liana Banyan platform provides a working implementation of peace economics principles. Its sixteen initiatives, three-tier currency system, and decentralized governance structure create conditions where:

1. Poverty is addressed through economic participation, not charity
2. Ignorance is addressed through accessible documentation
3. Lack of opportunity is addressed through structural access mechanisms

This paper analyzes these implementations and proposes generalizable principles.

2. Theoretical Framework

2.1 Conflict Preconditions

Building on Galtung’s (1969) concept of “structural violence,” we identify three primary conflict preconditions:

2.2 The Structural Elimination Principle

Traditional interventions target the manifestations of these preconditions:

Precondition → Manifestation → Intervention
(Poverty)    → (Theft)       → (Policing)

Peace economics targets the precondition itself:

Structural Design → Precondition Eliminated → No Manifestation
(Economic Access) → (No Poverty)           → (No Theft Incentive)

2.3 The Irrationality Threshold

Conflict becomes economically irrational when:

Cost(Conflict) > Benefit(Conflict) + Cost(Cooperation)

Peace economics aims to:

1. Increase Cost(Conflict) through reputation systems
2. Decrease Benefit(Conflict) through abundant access
3. Decrease Cost(Cooperation) through infrastructure

When this inequality holds, rational actors choose cooperation.

3. Implementation: The Liana Banyan Architecture

3.1 Addressing Poverty: Economic Participation

The Cloth & Bag Analogy:

Credits and Joules have identical base value but different potential — like cloth and a bag sewn from that cloth. This creates:

1. Immediate liquidity (Credits)
2. Long-term appreciation (Joules)
3. Service backing (MARKS)

Mathematical Foundation:

User_Wealth(t) = Credits(t) + Joules(t) × GapRate(t) + MARKS(t) × ReputationMultiplier(t)

Where:

• GapRate(t) increases as platform adoption grows
• ReputationMultiplier(t) increases with positive track record

This creates positive feedback: early participation is rewarded with appreciation.

3.2 Addressing Ignorance: Knowledge Architecture

The Book of Peace Taxonomy:

THE BOOK OF PEACE (Cephas)
│
├── PART I: Economic Peace (Remove Poverty)
│   ├── Credits & Joules
│   ├── Stake Accounts
│   └── The Differential
│
├── PART II: Quality Peace (Remove Ignorance)
│   ├── Harper System
│   ├── 5-Sigma Production
│   └── Academic Papers
│
├── PART III: Governance Peace (Remove Injustice)
│   ├── The 300
│   ├── Star Chamber
│   └── Dispute Resolution
│
└── PART IV: Spread Peace
    ├── Letters
    ├── Cue Cards
    └── Distribution Network

Keep It Super Simple 3-Tier:

This ensures information is accessible regardless of education level.

3.3 Addressing Lack of Opportunity: Structural Access

The Meritocracy Principle:

Every position in Liana Banyan is accessible through performance:

No demographic requirements. No insider preferences. Pure results.

The Johnny Appleseed Model:

Sponsor (5K)
    │
    ├─→ 50 Medallions (100 each)
    │       │
    │       ├─→ Recipient 1 (splits 10×10)
    │       │       │
    │       │       └─→ 10 new members
    │       │
    │       ├─→ Recipient 2 (builds business)
    │       │
    │       └─→ Recipient 3 (becomes sponsor)
    │               │
    │               └─→ 50 more medallions...

Each chain creates access that didn’t exist before.

4. Measurement: Peace Metrics

4.1 Proposed Metrics

4.2 Baseline Establishment

Before launch, baseline metrics should be established:

• External conflict rates in target populations
• External economic access metrics
• External opportunity metrics

Post-launch, these can be compared to internal metrics.

4.3 Hypothesis Testing

H1: As Economic Velocity increases, Conflict Rate decreases. H2: As Access Dispersion decreases, Conflict Rate decreases. H3: As Opportunity Index increases, Conflict Rate decreases.

Regression analysis can test these relationships.

5. Limitations and Counterarguments

5.1 Limitations

5.2 Counterarguments

“People will always fight.”

True, but they will fight less when fighting is irrational. The goal is not utopia but improvement.

“This is just economics, not peace.”

Economics and peace are inseparable. Most conflicts have economic roots. Address the roots, reduce the conflicts.

“Charities already do this.”

Charities provide resources. Peace economics provides infrastructure for self-sustaining resource generation. The distinction is dependency vs. independence.

6. Conclusion

6.1 Summary

Peace economics offers a structural approach to conflict reduction:

1. Poverty → Economic participation (not charity)
2. Ignorance → Accessible knowledge (tiered complexity)
3. Lack of Opportunity → Structural access (meritocracy)

When these preconditions are addressed, conflict becomes economically irrational.

6.2 The Book of Peace

Cephas — the Liana Banyan knowledge center — is organized as a “Book of Peace” because it documents the systems that create conditions for flourishing. Every entry contributes to the whole.

“When the reasons behind violence and strife are solved — like poverty or ignorance or lack of opportunity — peace naturally flows. No reason for conflict = no conflict.”

6.3 Future Research

6.4 Invitation

This paper documents a working system, not a theoretical exercise. Researchers are invited to:

1. Review the implementation at Cephas.LianaBanyan.org
2. Propose improvements to the framework
3. Conduct independent analysis of outcomes
4. Publish findings (with attribution)

The Book of Peace is not finished. It grows with every contribution.

References

Galtung, J. (1969). Violence, Peace, and Peace Research. Journal of Peace Research, 6(3), 167-191.

Lewis, C.S. (1946). The Great Divorce. Geoffrey Bles.

Jones, J. (2025). A Considered Approach to Sustained Universal Economic Prosperity. Liana Banyan Foundation Documents.

Jones, J. (2026). The Cloth & Bag Analogy. Liana Banyan Foundation Documents.

Appendix A: The Three-Gear Currency System

[Full technical specification of Credits, Marks, and Joules]

Appendix B: The Harper Selection Algorithm

[Full technical specification of auditor selection]

Appendix C: The Keep It Super Simple Protocol

[Full documentation of 3-tier explanation system]

“Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the presence of systems that make conflict unnecessary.”