Social exclusion

Social exclusion, conflict and insecurity

There are close links between social exclusion and conflict and insecurity, both in terms of causes and consequences. There are now convincing arguments that some forms of social exclusion generate the conditions in which conflict can arise.  This could range from civil unrest to violent armed conflict and terrorist activity. Severely disadvantaged groups with shared characteristics (such as ethnicity or religion) may resort to violent conflict in order to claim their rights and redress inequalities. Group differences are not enough in themselves to cause conflict, but social exclusion and horizontal inequalities provide fertile ground for violent mobilisation.

As well as being a common cause of conflict, social exclusion can also occur as a result of conflict. This can take many forms, and includes, for example, unemployed and excluded youth in Sierra Leone as ex-combatants return from conflict, or women who are stigmatised because of rape, injury or HIV infection during periods of conflict.

Page contents

Where is a good place to start?

Stewart, F. 2000, ‘Crisis Prevention: Tackling Horizontal Inequalities’, Working Paper no. 33, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford, Oxford
What are the links between civil war and poverty? What are the policy implications of including crisis prevention as a central factor in poverty reduction strategies for developing countries? This paper by Queen Elizabeth House (UK) argues that conflict prevention should be a poverty reduction and human development objective rather than only a political one, as has been the case up to the present. Preventing crisis will require addressing horizontal inequalities between conflicting groups, and will require donors to modify poverty reduction strategies accordingly.
Access full text: available online

Social exclusion as a cause of conflict and insecurity

Stewart, F., 2004, ‘Social Exclusion and Conflict: Analysis and Policy Implications’, Report prepared for the UK Department for International Development, London
What conditions cause social exclusion to lead to violence? What policies could be adopted to reduce social exclusion and prevent conflict? This paper by Frances Stewart addresses these questions, drawing on examples of social exclusion and situations of conflict worldwide, including case studies from Malaysia and Northern Ireland. Policies to reduce social exclusion are part of a poverty reduction agenda and should aim to promote the well being of the excluded and prevent violent conflict.
Access full text: available online

Moser, C. and Rodgers, D., 2005, ‘Change, Violence and Insecurity in Non-Violent Situations’, Overseas Development Institute, London
Violence is a core security and development priority. This working paper from the Overseas Development Institute explores the relationship between change and violence in non-conflict situations. It is broadly comparative, using examples from Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the former Soviet Union. It argues that change in the current context of globalisation is increasingly a violent phenomenon.
Access full text: available online

Geiser, A., 2005, Social Exclusion and Conflict Transformation in Nepal: Women, Dalit and Ethnic Groups’, Swisspeace, Bern
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and the Maoist struggle has left more than 11,000 people dead. This swisspeace FAST Country Risk Profile shows how social exclusion has been established throughout the process of nationbuilding in Nepal, and how it has manifested in actual terms in daily life. It argues that the peace process is unsustainable without the participation and integration of all marginalized groups. It concludes that international organisations should support local civil society organisations (CSOs), which have the greatest potential to contribute to long-term conflict transformation and address the root causes of the war.
Access full text: available online

Ostby, G., 2004, ‘Do Horizontal Inequalities Matter for Civil Conflict?’, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo
Do nationwide inequalities between social groups increase the likelihood of civil conflict? This paper from the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, compares levels of economic, social and health-related inequality between ethnic groups with the risk of civil conflict in 33 developing countries. It argues that, while there is no statistically important link between economic or health-related indicators and civil war, there is a strong connection between social inequality and conflict.
Access full text: available online

Social exclusion as a consequence of conflict

Richards, P., Khadija, B. and Vincent, J, 2004, ‘Social Capital and Survival: Prospects for Community-Driven Development in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone’, World Bank Social Development Papers, Paper No. 12, World Bank, Washington
How does war affect the capacity for collective action in rural communities? This World Bank Social Development Paper analyses and evaluates how social capital (defined as collective action) functions in rural communities recovering from war in Sierra Leone. The objective is to better understand poverty and vulnerability to strengthen the National Social Action Project (NSAP) - a mechanism for funding direct community action for post-war recovery and poverty alleviation. It concludes by identifying the institutional and technical factors that need to be addressed to provide poor people with the opportunities to acquire and exercise their rights.
Access full text: available online

Omanyono, M. et al., 2005, ‘Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo’, International Alert
Access full text: available online
(document summary available shortly)

What other resources are available on the GSDRC?

• Security and development topic guide
• Violent Conflict topic guide

Additional information resources

Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity (CRISE)
CRISE is a DFID-supported Development Research Centre within Oxford University. It aims to investigate relationships between ethnicity, inequality and conflict, with the aim of identifying economic, political, social and cultural policies which promote stable and inclusive multiethnic societies.

New additions