World Development Report 2011

REPORT: Conflict Security and Development

World Bank President, Robert B. Zoellick, wishes to bring "security and development together to break the cycles of fragility and violence affecting more than one billion people."

In a press release following the World Development Report 2011: Conflict Security and Development, it says that "Some 1.5 billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of political and criminal violence, and no low-income fragile or conflict-affected country has yet to achieve a single Millennium Development Goal. Fixing the economic, political, and security problems that disrupt development and trap fragile states in cycles of violence requires strengthening national institutions and improving governance in ways that prioritize citizen security, justice, and jobs." 

World Bank President, Robert B. Zoellick, now wish to bring "security and development together to break the cycles of fragility and violence affecting more than one billion people."

According to WSJ online, "Marcus Noland, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, calls the World Bank's focus on security and policing 'completely unprecedented.' Despite concerns about the repression of political unrest in the Middle East, he said the proposals make sense as a first step for failed states where order has broken down. 'This is an argument that is likely to gain traction."

Somewhat critical of the report, Oxfam's Daniel Gorevan, tells IPS that "We are seeing a worrying increase in the level of militarised or politicised aid. That's problematic, especially if this assistance doesn't address the root causes of conflict and puts communities or aid workers' lives at risk."

In the IPS story, Oxfam also point to the fact that "Since 2001, there has been a growing trend of aid being used to win 'hearts and minds' in conflict but it is often poorly conceived, ineffective, and in some cases has turned beneficiaries and aid workers into targets for attack. Aid directed to short-term political and military objectives fails to reach the poorest people. It also fails to build long-term security either in fragile states or, ultimately, for donors themselves."

Access the full WDR 2011 report here

HEO