Breaking the Conflict Trap: Civil War and Development Policy

by World Bank, V. L Elliott, Havard Hegre

Civil war conflict is a core development issue. The existence of civil war can dramatically slow a country's development process, especially in low-income countries which are more vulnerable to civil war conflict. Conversely, development can impede civil war. When development succeeds, countries become safer―when development fails, they experience a greater risk of being caught in a conflict trap. Ultimately, civil war is a failure of development.

'Breaking the Conflict Trap' identifies the dire consequences that civil war has on the development process and offers three main findings. First, civil war has adverse ripple effects that are often not taken into account by those who determine whether wars start or end. Second, some countries are more likely than others to experience civil war conflict and thus, the risks of civil war differ considerably according to a country's characteristics including its economic stability. Finally, Breaking the Conflict Trap explores viable international measures that can be taken to reduce the global incidence of civil war and proposes a practical agenda for action.

This book should serve as a wake up call to anyone in the international community who still thinks that development and conflict are distinct issues.

Genres: Politics, International Development, Nonfiction, Economics, Africa

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2003

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear and coherent policy analysis and guidance on reducing the why and how to reduce the incidence of civil war in the world. A worthwhile read if your work involves international peace and security, development economics, and similar areas.

[Mikal Rian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quantitative, and some qualitative, effort. Lays the groundwork for further deeper analyses.