Abstract
A common moral imperative to reduce human suffering in developing countries has helped to bring the international poverty reduction and conflict mitigation agendas together. But while research and practice are well established in the fields of poverty and conflict, the nexus between these two fields at the theoretical and practical levels is largely nascent. Lack of a shared body of knowledge has arguably impeded the ability of these communities to work together toward the overlapping goals of reducing poverty and conflict in countries affected by violence and instability. Business, as a key sector of the international community, could potentially make significant contributions to the joint agenda if it were better integrated in efforts to develop the nexus. This article surveys the current states-of-knowledge in the fields of poverty and conflict, including the increasing influence of the fragile states theory. It then discusses some of the major schools of thought helping to bring poverty reduction efforts into alliance with conflict mitigation efforts. The third section identifies important conceptual convergences and divergences between the fields and reconsiders the prominent assumption that economic opportunity can be a powerful incentive for peace and stability. Finally, this article discusses potential areas that could advance the nexus of poverty and conflict at both a theoretical and practical level.
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Abbreviations
- BOP:
-
Bottom/base of the pyramid
- CDR:
-
Community-driven reconstruction
- CSR:
-
Corporate social responsibility
- DDR:
-
Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration
- DFID:
-
Department for International Development (of the United Kingdom)
- EITI:
-
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
- HDI:
-
Human Development Index
- ICT:
-
Information communication technology
- IDP:
-
Internally displaced person
- IMF:
-
International Monetary Fund
- KPCS:
-
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme
- MDGs:
-
Millennium Development Goals
- MDG1:
-
Millennium Development Goal One
- NIE:
-
New Institutional Economics
- OECD:
-
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
- PTC:
-
Peace through Commerce
- PRS:
-
Poverty Reduction Strategy
- SLA:
-
Sustainable Livelihoods Approach
- UNDP:
-
United Nations Development Programme
- UNHCR:
-
United Nations High Commission for Refugee
- USAID:
-
United States Agency for International Development
- WFP:
-
World Food Programme
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Penh, B. New Convergences in Poverty Reduction, Conflict, and State Fragility: What Business Should Know. J Bus Ethics 89 (Suppl 4), 515–528 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0404-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0404-6