This paper introduces the special issue of Oxford Development Studies on violent conflict in developing countries. The nine papers in this issue fall broadly into two parts—the first on horizontal inequalities and the management of ethnic conflicts in multiethnic states, and the second on...

This paper analyses the economic and social causes of conflict, drawing conclusions for conflict prevention. Civil wars normally occur when groups mobilize against each other, on the basis of some cultural characteristic like ethnicity or religion. It is suggested that horizontal inequalities,...

There is a growing number of wars in developing countries and they are∼ concentrated among the least developed countries. This paper explores their economic and social consequences by examining the behaviour of countries worst affected by war from 1970 to 1990. Despite problems about...

While there is world-wide agreement on poverty reduction as an overriding goal of development policy, there is little agreement on the definition of poverty. Four approaches to the definition and measurement of poverty are reviewed in this paper: the monetary, capability, social exclusion and...