Poverty and Violence in a Complex Relationship - Essay Example

Poverty and Violence have a Complex Relationship The issue of poverty and violence has been of great concern to the globe. With increasing efforts of countries to register a high development index, violence and poverty have been derailing most of the projects. The globe has multiple case studies that can aid in the analysis of the correlation between poverty and violence. On one hand, there is a probability that violence drags a nation into poverty. In other cases, there is a level of justification in concluding that poverty moves is a driver of violence. Through a critical analysis of discussions by different authors, it becomes evident that there is a complex relationship between violence and poverty. This paper will put the complexity into perspective. The question posed by the ‘Economist’ deserves critical consideration because getting viable answers to the causes of violence and poverty can serve as a benchmark. Such knowledge would prove very useful in defining the global priorities in the long-term venture of promoting human development. The fact that peaceful nations in the developing world have registered positive growth I n the recent past, in rates that are markedly higher than those in violent nations, establishes a pattern (Heitmeyer, & Hagan, 2003:24). This fact proves Aradau and Brown’s argument that human security is a precondition for human development very relevant (Butcher, & Papaioannou, 2012: 31). Without security, people live under constant fear. The constancy of fear among people has the potential of causing developmental paralysis. The case study illustrated in the ‘Economist’ comparing Burkina Faso and Burundi serves to provide more insight (The Economist, 2011:1). In 1990, the two African states presented an almost equal potential of economical growth. However, the violence that erupted in Burundi following the assassination of its president derailed the economic growth. After more than a decade of instability and violence in Burundi, a comparison to the peaceful Burkina Faso portrayed the detrimental effects of violence. Burkina Faso was doing better and had registered a wealth gain of two and half times. This serves to highlight that violence has the potential of making a nation poor. In the absence of the violence that resulted, probably Burundi would be an emerging economy in Africa. Violence is one of the major causes of poverty in the globe. Studies reveal countries that have experienced any form of civil war have deteriorated immensely economically. The case of Burundi is not an exception, but similar cases are evident in other regions such as Guatemala. Violence threatens the security of people causing them to live in fear of murder, rape, mugger and harassment. Moreover, Brown highlights that violence and conflict often result in the destruction of infrastructure. A society without adequate infrastructure has limited options rather than plunging into a social disorder. Social disorder will increase the chances of poverty increment. However, most of the nation with a history of violence exhibit poor governance and tyrannical leaderships. Poor governance often translates to unfair distribution of resources. Moreover, poor governance denies the people any chances of human security and human development. Aradau argues that the state should display certain qualities that motivate the people to trust the level of security it can offer (Butcher, & Papaioannou, 2012: 90-93). The illustration of Young quoted by Aradau elaborates the qualities that enable a government to protect its people. However, the failure of many governments to exhibit such qualities has led to different forms of insecurities. Some of these include instabilities and violence from authoritarian governments, conflicts, and unemployment. Poor governance can serve as a driver to violence. Violence then derails all the development projects underway causing a backlash. However, there is evidence of complexity in the whole issue. Poor governance and lack of adequate democratization is a cause of poverty. As it is evident in the developing world, poor governance has resulted in unequal distribution of the available resources. Moreover, poor governance has plunged people into extreme poverty because of a continued lack of proper planning. Poor governance makes it difficult for any of the empowerment programs that would foster human development to occur. Therefore, the people living in such nations are likely to suffer the consequences of poor governance immensely. Research reveals that poor governances has plunged people into extremes of poverty. In a bid to respond to the increasing poverty levels, the people may opt to use violent means. As the ‘Economist’ highlighted some youth in the poor countries mentioned unemployment and poverty as primary drivers to violence (The Economist, 2011:1). This explains why poor countries have a markedly high level crime and violence. As Brown explains, the eradication of poverty is only a possibility if efforts towards democratization and better governance receive a priority. In a case whereby citizens indulge in crime and violence because of the surging poverty and unemployment, then it is only rational for any intervention to focus on improving the existing governance (Williams, 2009:56). Unless a government can attain a level of stability that allows it to ensure equal distribution of wealth and resources, then it lacks the necessary platform of addressing the issue of poverty. The ‘Economist’ mentioned that one of the surest ways of addressing both violence and poverty is restoring a level of trustworthiness in the government (The Economist, 2011:1). This serves to confirm that violence and poverty and the factors surrounding them form a complex relationship that narrows down to the type of governance. On a different note, some nations facing poor governance and poverty have resulted in civil actions in solving their inherent issues. As Brown highlights, civil wars have a long history, and present a range of effects and possibilities (Butcher, & Papaioannou, 2012: 33-34). On one side, civil wars have the capacity to paralyze all the economic and development ventures, plunging people into poverty. This occurs because civil wars pose a level of insecurity to the people, derailing all activities. However, numerous case studies reveal that civil wars have been a driver of positive social transformation. Civil activists organize demonstrations that have formed the platform for demanding change in many parts of the globe. Sometimes these campaigns have turned out to be violent. However, an analysis of the long-term effects presents such civil violence as a driver towards social change. In one of the case studies exhibiting the developmental effects of violence, Brown explores the case of Europe. History reveals that the immense social changes that resulted in Europe were the consequences of warfare. War fare increased the momentum for the social changes that defined the level of organization of European states in 1900. Moreover, civil wars compelled most of the colonialists to grant their colonies the freedom they desired. For example, the American civil war involved a relentless demand for freedom. The Americans demanded freedom of exercising autonomy in their land. They needed the freedom that Aradau described as positive, that seeks to empower people to undergo human development (Butcher, & Papaioannou, 2012: 88). The colonial period had surrounded the people with numerous challenges hindering them from any form of development. However, the resulting civil war opened up an avenue for the nation to rebuild its identity. It gave the freedom that has enabled the nation to rise to the level of a leading global economy. It is evident that violence, poverty and development have an interrelationship. However, there is a need for governments to understand that there is a price to pay for initiating violence. The complex relationship existing between violence and poverty highlights more detrimental effects to any nation. It remains a fact that violence causes destruction of infrastructure and increases poverty. Viewed differently, a correlation still exists because poverty can motivate people to indulge in violence and organized crime (Butcher, & Papaioannou, 2012: 34). Even violence that results from justifiable cases as described in the case if civil war is a threat to developmental projects. However, good governance has the potential of eliminating both violence and poverty (Narayan-Parker, & Petesch, 2007:56). As described above, poverty and violence are some of the major setbacks in the global goal of ensuring a high human development index. The globe has multiple case studies that can aid in the analysis of the correlation between poverty and violence. On one hand, there is a probability that violence drags a nation into poverty. In other cases, there is a level of justification in concluding that poverty moves is a driver of violence. It is only rational to say that there is a great complexity in the relationship between the two factors. Bibliography Butcher, M., & Papaioannou, T. 2012. New perspectives in international development. London, Bloomsbury Academic. Heitmeyer, W., & Hagan, J. 2003. International handbook of violence research. Dordrecht ; Boston, Kluwer Academic Publishers. Narayan-Parker, D., & Petesch, P. L. 2007. Moving out of poverty. Basingstoke, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. The Economist. 2011. The Economic of Violence. Available at http://www.economist.com/node/18558041?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/ar/theeconomicsofviolence [Accessed: 6th March 6, 2013]. Williams, N. 2009. Discussion and evaluation of the relationship between poverty and terrorism. München, GRIN Verlag GmbH. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-201009092714. Read More