Human Rights Violations and Violent Internal Conflict

David Cingranelli,Reed Wood,Daniel Arnon,Peter Haschke,Skip Mark,Mark Gibney

doi:10.3390/socsci8020041

David Cingranelli, Reed Wood + Show 4 more

Open Access

PDF Available

https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci8020041

Copy DOI

Export

Save

Cite

Abstract
Highlights/Summary
Full-Text PDF
Similar Papers

Abstract

Listen

This research project uses econometric methods and comparative, cross-national data to see whether violations of human rights increase the likelihood of the onset or escalation of violent protest, terrorism and/or civil war. The findings show that these types of violent internal conflict will occur and escalate if governments: (1) torture, politically imprison, kill, or “disappear” people, (2) do not allow women to participate fully in the political system, including allowing them to hold high level national political office, and (3) do not allow women to participate fully in the economic life of the nation by ensuring equal pay for equal work, by encouraging their entry to the highest paid occupations, and by protecting them from sexual harassment at their workplaces. These types of violations of human rights and the existence of large horizontal inequalities in societies independently produce an increased risk of the onset and escalation of many forms of violent internal conflict. The results also provide some evidence for the argument that there is a trade-off between liberty and security.

Highlights

In the 2011 World Development Report, Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank, noted that “civil conflict costs the average developing country roughly 30 years of GDP growth, and countries in protracted crisis can fall over 20 percentage points behind in overcoming poverty” (p. xii)
Our argument implies that countries with greater respect for physical integrity rights are likely to experience less violent conflict
Our findings in this paper suggest that the way democracy is measured may have a large impact on its relationship to conflict, human rights respect, and inequality

Summary

Introduction

In the 2011 World Development Report, Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank, noted that “civil conflict costs the average developing country roughly 30 years of GDP growth, and countries in protracted crisis can fall over 20 percentage points behind in overcoming poverty” (p. xii). He wrote that, “Finding effective ways to help societies escape new outbursts or repeated cycles of violence is critical for global security and global development.”. The World Bank and UN Development Program began a joint study to examine how development and other policies contribute or could contribute to the prevention of violent conflict. The final report (United Nations and World Bank 2018) provided recommendations to governments and development organizations on preventing violent conflicts. An earlier version of this paper was commissioned by the UN and World Bank for their potential use in making those final recommendations. The authors of this paper were asked to explore the potential for a human rights-based approach to reducing the likelihood and intensity of violent internal conflicts around the world

Results

Discussion

Conclusion