The Millennium Development Goals and Conflict
Additional insights into development and conflict are offered by Beyond Intractability project participants.
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This section of the website explores the links between development and conflict, considering theory and practice from both sides. It is argued that the analysis and promotion of development has overlooked social conflicts that may be created by the changes required for successful development. These conflicts, however, act to hinder successful development. Thus the recognition of and attention to these conflicts is important if development is to be successful and the costs of these conflicts are to be reduced.
Since "development" is a very broad topic, we define it here in terms of the Millennium Development Goals. These goals were established by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 2000 in order to help developing countries promote change in eight core areas that would help reduce poverty and improve peoples' livelihoods. These goals are:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Achieve environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development
In a series of linked essays, this development "portal":
- Analyzes the origins of development interventions, focusing on their colonial roots and the idea of "transference" involved in aid programs.
- Discusses the links between capitalist development and conflict, highlighting how such connections have been disregarded by those working in the field of conflict studies.
- Explores the institutional dimensions of development and conflict which are seen as paramount, as ignoring them may lead to a vicious circle, a sort of "catch-22" from which developing countries have no escape.
- Explores avenues for conflict resolution or transformation in developing countries, stressing that interventions
- must occur in many different systems (political, social, economic, and cultural)
- at different levels (from the grassroots to the elite)
- and from macro (structural) to micro (individual) issues.
- Explores the way the interaction of conflict and development affect each of the eight Millennium Development Goals and Development and Conflict Theory.
Nine additional essays comprise a development "portal" or "section" of the Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base. These include:
While the essays can be read independently, together they take a fairly comprehensive look at the bi-directional relationship between development and conflict.
Use the following to cite this article:
Barbanti, Jr., Olympio . "Development and Conflict." Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: August 2004 <http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/development_conflict_introduction/>.
Sources of Additional, In-depth Information on this Topic
Additional Explanations of the Underlying Concepts:
Online (Web) Sources
von Meijenfeldt, Roel. Comprehensive Development Framework and Conflict-affected Countries.
Available at: Click here for more info.
This paper seeks to identify the major challenges or issues in applying Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF) principles in conflict-affected countries. This paper is an initial contextual desk study based on World Bank in-house interviews. The paper asserts that the four CDF principles (ownership, comprehensive analysis, accountability
for development results and partnership) are indeed applicable for assistance to countries in or at risk of violent conflict. -From Abstract
Overton, John. Development in Chaos?. Institute of Development Studies (IDS).
Available at: http://www.devnet.org.nz/conf/Papers/Overton.pdf.
"This paper will examines the idea of development in the context of conflict and disorder and looks at the relationship between development, peace and the state. It also reflects on how such conceptions of development might contrast with conventional definitions of development as an ordered, rational and programmed strategy." -From Article
Human Development Reports.
Available at: http://hdr.undp.org/.
This page provides full access to the United Nations' 2003 Human Development Report, which is entitled, "Millennium Development Goals: A Compact Among Nations to End Human Poverty". In addition to downloadable PDF files of the entire report, the site provides access to supplemental information that will help readers understand the report more fully.
NGOs Assess the Millenium Development Goals.
Available at: http://www.unsystem.org/ngls/documents/pdf/roundup/RU105mdg.pdf.
This short piece offers the perspectives of four NGO representatives on the Millenium Development Goals and the feasibility of actually achieving them. These views are intended to stimulate a broader discussion about the MDGs and their significance at national and internatiohnal levels, as well as their relevance to the work of NGOs.
Selassi, Bereket. Peace, Conflict, and Development.
Available at: http://www.worldsummit2002.org/texts/BereketSelassie.pdf.
Focusing on Africa, this conference paper discusses the connections between peace, conflict, and sustainable development. The basic premise is that peace is required for sustainable development to flourish, and accordingly that conflict regions are inherently hindered from developing.
The IMF and the Millenium Development Goals: Failing to Deliver for Low Income Countries.
Available at: http://www.oxfam.org/en/files/pp030917_imf_mdgs.pdf.
This paper offers a critique of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) approach to its role in fulfilling the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) outlined by the United Nations. The IMF plays a key role in defining how much money governments can spend. According to this report, the IMF is failing to meet its obligations to poor countries and hindering the possibility of achieving the MDGs.
Foster, John W. The Millenium Declaration: Mobilizing Civil Society Organizations. North-South Institute.
Available at: http://www.un-ngls.org/Foster.doc.
This report covers the response of civil society organizations (CSOs) to the Millennium Declaration and the Goals it proclaims. The report brings to light significant regional degrees of optimism and pessimism concerning the realisation of the different Millenium Development Goals. It also indicates the importance CSOs attach to policy and institutional reform, along with the ongoing commitment of many to monitoring government performance, as well as to their own practical implementation of strategies for meeting the MDGs within the stipulated timeframe.
The Millenium Project.
Available at: http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/.
This site describes the Millenium Project as it relates to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). Basically, the project aims to "devise a recommended plan of implementation that will allow all developing countries to meet the MDGs and thereby substantially improve the human condition by 2015." -From Website
Klingebiel, Stephan. "The OECD, World Bank and International Monetary Fund: Development Activities in the Crisis Prevention and Conflict Management Sphere." , 2001
Available at: http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/10596769151engl-oecd-imf.pdf.
Whatever the development policy options, international actors can in principle take action in four different fields with a view to preventing crises and managing conflicts: policy and diplomacy; security policy; emergency and refugee aid; and reconstruction aid and development cooperation. This paper considers three international development institutions operating predominantly in the fields of emergency and refugee aid, and reconstruction aid and development cooperation.
The World Bank Millenium Development Goals Site.
Available at: http://ddp-ext.worldbank.org/ext/GMIS/home.do?siteId=2.
This site is a comprehensive gateway to a broad array of information about the Millenium Development Goals outlined by the United Nations in the Millenium Declaration in September 2000. The goals revolve around the following areas of concern: poverty, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other diseases, environment, and global partnership. The site includes sections on all major world regions of concern.
United Nations Millenium Development Goals (MDG).
Available at: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/.
This site prsents an outline of the Millenium Development Goals as outlined by the United Nations. The page includes links to related articles.
Offline (Print) Sources
Collier, Paul. Breaking the Conflict Trap: Civil War and Development Policy. Washington, DC: World Bank, June 1, 2003.
This work discusses the devastating impacts of civil war upon development and its prospects. In fact, civil war is likened to development in reverse. The authors note that these consequences are suffered mostly by civilians and particularly children, while decison makers tend to be less affected. Moreover, development is advocated as a method of preventing civil war as most civil wars break out in low-income nations. The authors develop and explain three key findings regarding the connection between civil war and development.
"Journal of Peacebuilding and Development." , 1900.
The Journal of Peacebuilding and Development (JPD) is a new tri-annual, refereed journal for practitioners, activists, policymakers and academics that wish to share critical thinking and constructive action on issues at the intersections of conflict, development, and peace.
Thomas, Alan and Tim Allen, eds. Poverty and Development: Into the 21st Century, Revised Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, October 2000.
This is an extensive collection of essays on various aspects of international development. It includes chapters on everything from poverty, to environmental degradation, to conflict, to democratization, and many other topics.
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Examples Illustrating this Topic:
Online (Web) Sources
Achieving the Millenium Development Goals in Africa: Progress, Prospects, and Policy Implications.
Available at: http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0000381/index.php.
This report details the progress made in Africa toward reaching the United Nations' Millenium Development Goals, as of 2002.
Shala, Albana and Daniel Chavez. "Albania: From Anarchy to Kanun Politics and Society." , 2002
Available at: Click here for more info.
This article discusses the history of conflict in Albania and the potential for bringing peace to the country, which has been embroiled in conflict since political and social upheaval began in 1997. The piece provides background on Albania's problems and examines the state of the nation in an attempt to identify entry points for establishing stability and encouraging economic, social, and political development.
Achodo, Charles Chidi. Conflict and Post Conflict: Patterns, Issues, Impact on Economic Development and Povert Cycle in Countries in Africa.
Available at: Click here for more info.
This paper discusses the difficulty that many African nations have experienced as they have tried to transition from colonial rule to independent nation-states. In addition to covering the general causes of many post-colonial African conflicts, the paper also discusses how the potential for economic development in Africa is affected by conflict.
Millenium Indicators Database.
Available at: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/default.aspx.
A framework of 8 goals, 18 targets and 48 indicators to measure progress towards the Millennium Development goals was adopted by a consensus of experts from the United Nations Secretariat and IMF, OECD and the World Bank. This site outlines each goal, its targets, and the associated indicators. The inidicators link to millennium data series as well as to background series related to the target in question.
Joseph, Richard. Smart Partnerships for African Development: A New Strategic Framework.
Available at: http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr88.html.
This report discusses the strategies of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which is striving to promote investment in poor African nations in order to help them undertake political, legal, and economic reforms. Development efforts in Africa have been regularly hindered by armed conflict and institutional shortcomings. NEPAD aims to promote smart partnerships between peoples and institutions in order to advance efforts at improved governance, state-building, human security, and economic growth.
The Feasibility of Achieving the Millenium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific.
Available at: http://www.unescap.org/drpad/publication/survey2002/Sur02-11.pdf.
This paper assess the potential for reaching the United Nations' Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region. The report systematically addresses prospects for each of the key goals using quantitative data.
United Nations Development Programme Site on Millenium Development Goals.
Available at: http://www.undp.org/mdg/.
This site provides access to a variety of information regarding the UN's Millenium Development Goals. In addition to laying out what the MDGs are, it has links to other information. The country reports are particularly interesting as it gives one a sense of how the MDGs are actually being pursued in specific places.
Offline (Print) Sources
Ruth-Heffelbower, Duane. "Local Capacities for Peace Meets Conflict Resolution Practice." Journal of Peacebuilding & Development 1:1, 2002.
This case study of Ambon, Indonesia argues for the stronger use of development and aid groups in conflict prevention. It explains how the methods used by these organizations can help promote inter-group cooperation.
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