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From Conflict to Reconstruction: Reviving the Social Contract

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  • Addison, Tony
  • Murshed, S. Mansoob

Abstract

Contemporary civil wars are rooted in a partial or complete breakdown of the social contract, often involving disputes over public spending, resource revenues, and taxation. A feasible social contract gives potential rebels something akin to a transfer. When this is improbable, and the potential spoils are rich then warfare is more likely. Grievances, not just pure greed, motivate war. But peace deals can also break down when commitments are not credible. Successful reconstruction after war must rebuild the social contract. The chances of success increase if the economy can achieve broad- based growth. If grievances can be satisfied by absolute improvements in living standards the present donor focus on absolute poverty reduction will be conducive to reviving the social contract. But if grievances are expressed in relative terms, governments and donors must also address inequality and regional gaps. [Discussion Paper No.2001/48]
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Suggested Citation

  • Addison, Tony & Murshed, S. Mansoob, 2001. "From Conflict to Reconstruction: Reviving the Social Contract," WIDER Working Paper Series 048, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:dp2001-48
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    File URL: http://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/dp2001-48.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jean-Paul Azam, 2001. "The Redistributive State and Conflicts in Africa," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 38(4), pages 429-444, July.
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    3. repec:fth:oxesaf:2001-3 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Hirshleifer, Jack, 1995. "Anarchy and Its Breakdown," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 103(1), pages 26-52, February.
    5. Tony Addison & S. Mansoob Murshed, 2002. "Credibility and Reputation in Peacemaking," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 39(4), pages 487-501, July.
    6. Michelle R. Garfinkel & Stergios Skaperdas, 2000. "Contract or War? On the Consequences of a Broader View of Self-Interest in Economics," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 44(1), pages 5-16, March.
    7. Azam, Jean-Paul & Mesnard, Alice, 2003. "Civil War and the Social Contract," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 115(3-4), pages 455-475, June.
    8. Robert H. Bates, 2000. "Ethnicity and Development in Africa: A Reappraisal," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(2), pages 131-134, May.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Glinkina, Svetlana P. & Rosenberg, Dorothy J., 2003. "Social and Economic Decline as Factors in Conflict in the Caucasus," WIDER Working Paper Series 018, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. José Cuesta & Syed Mansoob Murshed, 2008. "On the Micro-Foundations of Contract versus Conflict with Implications for International Peace-Making," Research Department Publications 4591, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    3. Murshed, S. Mansoob & Gates, Scott, 2004. "Spatial Horizontal Inequality and the Maoist Insurgency in Nepal," WIDER Working Paper Series 043, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. José Cuesta & Syed Mansoob Murshed, 2008. "Las Micro-Fundaciones de contrato frente a conflictos con consecuencias en la paz internacional," Research Department Publications 4592, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    5. Jose Cuesta & Mansoob Murshed, 2008. "The Micro-foundations of Social Contracts, Civil Conflicts and International Peace-Making," Research Working Papers 8, MICROCON - A Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict.
    6. Dibeh, Ghassan, 2005. "The Political Economy of Postwar Reconstruction in Lebanon," WIDER Working Paper Series 044, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Sumon Kumar Bhaumik & Ira N Gang & Myeong-Su Yun, 2009. "Rationality as a Barrier to Peace: Micro-evidence from Kosovo," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 51(2), pages 242-264, June.
    8. Syed Mansoob Murshed & Mohammad Zulfan Tadjoeddin, 2009. "Revisiting the greed and grievance explanations for violent internal conflict," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(1), pages 87-111.
    9. Malone, David M. & Nitzschke, Heiko, 2005. "Economic Agendas in Civil Wars: What We Know, What We Need to Know," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2005/07, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Ghassan Dibeh, 2008. "The business cycle in postwar Lebanon," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(2), pages 145-160.
    11. Svetlana P. Glinkina & Dorothy J. Rosenberg, 2003. "The socioeconomic roots of conflict in the Caucasus," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(4), pages 513-524.

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    Keywords

    conflict; contract; civil war; reconstruction;

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