THE IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICT ON DEVELOPMENT

The Impact of Armed Conflict on Development



The Impact of Armed Conflict on Development

Introduction

Armed conflict has manifold impacts on development and on environmental and human well-being, both in the long and short run. The impacts are sensed at different spatial levels, even of domestic conflicts, not only within the direct area of conflict, and often in next-door countries. Conflict destabilizes or devastates environmental, physical, human and social capital, reducing existing opportunities for sustainable development.

The human well- being is impacted by conflicts, quality of life is being reduced and the abilities of people is also affected, hindering individuals to live the life what is being valued by them. Not only the loss of lives, livelihoods and opportunities are get affected by the conflicts, but also the human self-esteem and essential human rights are also influenced by the armed conflicts. Because of exclusion, dislocation and the loss of biodiversity, means of subsistence and sustenance are directly impacted via dropped off accessibility to land, and insufficient access to natural resources.

This study is aimed to analyze the impact of armed conflict. The country of Somalia is taken as case study. Since, much of Somalia has been engulfed by violent conflict for decades. By the fall of dictatorship of Mohamed Siad Barre, marked most dramatically early in 1991, southern Somalia stays in an on shaky ground state of civil conflict that leads to a humanitarian disaster. (Linke, 2011, 49) Progress toward improving the socio-economic conditions of Somalians has been obstructed by recurrent civil conflict. As a consequence of conflict, a great deal of civilians has to be dislodged and food aid was also diverted by warlords. (Guha-Sapir & Ratnayake, 2009, 1-2)

Rationale for the Study

Violence and conflict has shattered communities and families, over the past five decades. Nations are torn apart and sustainable development prospects are destabilized across large belts of the developing world. Even the 21st century until now, seems to be abiding that outline of frail stability deflated by violent occurrences of conflict and social collapse. The ramifications and quandaries of conflict zone and humanitarian activity in that region are illustrated by recent events in Sudan, DR Congo, Palestine, Afghanistan and perhaps most notably (in terms of international politics at least) in Iraq. Particular challenges are presented through violence and conflict for the development process in addition to rights-based issues, where there is a conflict in some cases among humanitarian need and priorities. The turmoil and trauma of violence has a long lasting impact on a community: psychological, capital and emotional.

The fundamental rationale for the study is to analyze the impact of armed conflict on the development of a society and a nation. The study intends to examine through a blend of theory and case-study of Somalia, the roots, causes and motivations behind violent conflict and the impact of protracted and widespread violence upon development prospects.

The Positive Aspect of Armed Conflicts

Though there is a great deal of negative aspects of conflicts, however on the other, there ...