Key Message
The actions of irresponsible businesses in fragile states can trigger violent conflict.
Conversely, conflict-sensitive business practice stimulates struggling economies, raises the standard of living and can contribute to stability.
IISD makes the business case for conflict prevention and peace promotion.
Business and Conflict
At its best, increased business investment in fragile states should reduce the risk of violent conflict by stimulating economic growth and raising living standards. However, this has not always been the case.
On the contrary, irresponsible companies have contributed to conflict in a number of ways: by helping violent factions raise money through the sale of conflict resources, by supporting repressive governments, by encouraging corruption, by ignoring the needs of local communities and by causing severe environmental damage.
IISD focuses on engaging natural resource-related companies, financial institutions and governments on the critical links between business and violent conflict. We make the business case for conflict prevention, and suggest ways that business can support peace.
Contents
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Conflict Sensitive Business Practice
Led by International Alert and in partnership with IISD, this research program distilled the best conflict assessment methodologies into concrete guidance and developed strategies for ensuring conflict-sensitive business practice. International Alert is carrying this project forward with field pilots and on-going policy work. -
The Extractive Sector and Conflict
A series of case studies and articles on the role of mining, oil and gas in conflicts around the world, and some recommendations on how these industries might better ensure their activities "do no harm." -
The Finance Sector and Conflict
In collaboration with the UNEP Finance Initiative, and sponsored by the Germany Environment Ministry BMU this initiative seeks to map out the links between the activities of banks, insurers and asset managers, and the drivers, triggers and financial means for sustaining conflict.
Key Publication
Trade, Aid and Security: An agenda for peace and development
» Oli Brown, Mark Halle, Sonia Peña Moreno, Sebastian Winkler, Earthscan, 2006.Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur. All resonate loudly on the international stage, exposing and illustrating the intractable links among global security, war and conflict, the control over natural resources—be they oil, water, timber or "conflict diamonds"—and the deployment of aid money and the manipulation of international trade policies. This volume, written by leading authorities from across the globe, introduces the linkages among trade, aid and security, and exposes how inappropriate or misused trade and aid policies can and do undermine security and contribute to violence and the disintegration of nation states. On a practical level, they demonstrate how six key areas of trade and aid policy can be used to help forge stability and security, reduce the likelihood of armed conflict and assist economic and political recovery in our war-torn world. Foreword by Lloyd Axworthy. More...
Our Knowledge
» Themes
- Climate Change and Energy
- Economics and SD
- Foreign Investment for SD
- Governance for Sustainable Development
- Information Society
- International Trade
- Measurement and Assessment
- Natural Resources
- Networks & Partnerships
- Security
- Sustainable Markets
- Tomorrow's SD Leaders
» Initiatives
- Finance Alliance For Sustainable Trade (FAST)
- Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI)
- IISDLabs.org
- The IISD Media Blog
