Inequalities between social groups leading to conflicts

Photo by Sofia Widforss

Anyone concerned with promoting development and reducing human suffering must make confl ict prevention a priority. Violent conflict within multi-ethnic and multi-religious countries, often fought along ethnic or religious lines, is a major cause of death, destruction, poverty and underdevelopment. Fortunately, conflict within multi-ethnic countries is not inevitable—in fact, most multi-ethnic societies are peaceful.
Frances Stewart presents basic findings from a major research program covering countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia and West Africa. The basic conclusion is that inequalities – be they political, economic, social or cultural – among salient identity groups, increases the risk of violent conflict.