Relationship Between Poverty and Conflict

“The world is over-armed and peace in under-funded” This phrase said by Ban-Ki Moon, security general of the United Nations emphasizes the interconnection between poverty and conflict. Though both terms can be used separately the two often interplay with one another when dealing with the issue of human security. In the current year, 2013 citizens in undeveloped and developing countries suffer from lack of human security which is essential in preventing poverty. According the United Nations there are seven areas of security a state must provide in order to protect their citizens from freedom of fear and want (Baylis, Smith & Owens, 2011). Unfortunately, though poverty takes lives everyday citizens that are living under the poverty line have a tendency to be more vulnerable to conflict. Conflict can affect human security in two ways, one it can be the cause of the issue or two it can make the issue worse. By using the examples of Nepal and Sir Lanka, their experiences reveal just how conflict and poverty interplay with one another.

Freedom from fear and freedom from want have two separate concepts of human security. Freedom from fear addresses more violence driven conflict within states. Meaning that to ensure citizens safety, states should provide all citizens with personal security in addition with community security. By protecting a citizen personally and within their community this would ensure that all citizens are free from the threat of violence. Freedom from want addresses more basic necessities which individuals need in order live. This includes food, shelter, the protection from environment degradation and disease (Baylis, Smith & Owens, 2011). Freedom from fear and want together create an ideal standard of security whic...

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...ar like factors make it complicated to fulfill their needs due to the dangerous conditions. In conclusion both the term poverty and conflict together construct a vicious cycle that affects millions across the world.

References

Baylis, J., Smith , S., & Owens, P. (2011). The globalization of world politics. (5th ed.). NY: Oxford University Press

Ganepola, V., & Thalayasingam, P. (2004). Poverty and conflict. Center for Poverty Analysis , 1, Retrieved from http://www.cepa.lk/uploads/a8a885d9ebac670a8e1e5a44677292c1-Poverty---Conflict---01.pdf

Lakshmi, I. (2010). Geography, poverty and conflict in nepal . Journal of Peace Research , Retrieved from http://indianstrategicknowledgeonline.com/web/735.full.pdf

Panday, P. (2011). Interplay between conflict, poverty and remittance: the case of nepal . International Buisness and Economic Research Jornal, 10(2), 67.