Publications
Publications
- 2009
- HBS Working Paper Series
The Bloody Millennium: Internal Conflict in South Asia
By: Lakshmi Iyer
Abstract
This paper documents the short-term and long-term trends in internal conflict in South Asian countries, using multiple data sources. I find that incidents of terrorism have been rising across South Asia over the past decade, and this increase has been concentrated in economically lagging regions in the post-2001 period. This is in contrast to both the historical patterns of conflict, and the evolution of other types of violence. Analyzing the role of economic, geographic and demographic factors, I find that poorer areas have significantly higher levels of conflict intensity. The paper reviews the various approaches taken by governments to deal with conflict, contrasting security-based approaches with political accommodation and economic approaches. Finally, the paper reviews the potential role of regional cooperation in mitigating conflict.
Keywords
Crime and Corruption; International Relations; National Security; Conflict Management; Poverty; South Asia
Citation
Iyer, Lakshmi. "The Bloody Millennium: Internal Conflict in South Asia." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 09-086, January 2009.