Global Economic Influences and Policies towards Violent Self-Determination Movements: An Overview

Abstract

In summary, while it would be wrong to attribute to global influences majorresponsibility for all the conflicts in the world today, there is no doubt that the currentsystem of globalisation has contributed to the motivation as well as the finance ofmany of today’s conflicts; and global policy change could consequently do much toreduce it. Since September 11th, the developed countries have seen the need to haveeffective controls over finance for terrorist activities, and progress has been made intightening controls. But there has been much less recognition that it is essential totackle the more fundamental economic and political causes of such struggles, ifviolent contests for self-determination are to be avoided. Yet policies aimed atreducing the finance of conflict alone are unlikely to be effective for two reasons:first, because it is probably impossible to secure comprehensive regulation for bothtechnical and political reasons; secondly, because so long as the fundamental underlying economic and political causes remain violent conflicts will continue,exploiting loopholes in or evading the regulations, or resorting to home-grownweapons. Without the more fundamental improvements in underlying economic andpolitical conditions, actions directed at financing and repressions are likely to haveonly a small impact. ==============The Chapter: == This paper analyses major global economic influences on violent self-determinationmovements, distinguishing between those influences which affect the basic causes of violentSDMs from those that help sustain and finance such movements. While globalisation hasbeen associated with economic development and political stability in some places, elsewhereit has been accompanied by rising poverty, worsening horizontal inequalities and a weakenedstate providing fertile ground for violent SDMs. These have been financed, and to someextent motivated, by a variety of global sources, some legal (e.g. oil, aid) and some illegeal(e.g. drugs). Most international attention has been placed on controlling sources of finance,but such attempts have invariably been ineffective. It is argued that such efforts will almostcertainly continue to be ineffective unless priority is given to addressing the underlyingeconomic causes of violent SDMs.==========The Book ====="This study, carried out by an international team of scholars and based on original field research, makes an important contribution to the field of development and security at a time when international institutions, conflict prevention and external intervention are undergoing a critical phase of re-evaluation and transition. Comparative analyses of international conflict funding, the role of diaspora communities, and cultural and media influences are combined with major new case studies from critical regions. The authors make radical policy proposals to the international community on the means to prevent violent conflicts that arise in the context of movements for self-determination."--BOOK JACKET.