Foreword

• Published date: 08 July 2010
• Date: 08 July 2010
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1572-8323(2010)0000014004
• Pages: xi

FOREWORD

The book includes a set of chapters primarily to investigate the link between

economics and conf‌licts. Although the subject matter hasbeen presented in

some other volumes in this series, this book spans a wider area covering cross

fertilisation of disciplines and the role of law and institutions. The cross-

disciplinary approach is necessary because some pure economists are

presenting their f‌indings in the area of politics and international relations.

Some contributors are asking the questions about the economic value of

peace. For that purpose they are using sophisticated scientif‌ic methods to

analyze domestic and international conf‌licts. A related specif‌ic question is

asked about the cost saving by privatising military prisons rather than

contracting. This substitution has implications in other areas such as

contracting military operations at the time of war. Of course, this cost savings

should be weighed against motivation of the soldiers to f‌ight. The question of

comparative cost also arises in the technology transfer of military goods

without giving out sensitive information and at the same time, concerned

about competition from indigenous capabilities of substitutions. This

alternative will induce proliferation of arms capabilities of other countries.

The second set of chapters addresses the most researched topic in Peace

Science, namely internal, domestic and ethnic conf‌lict. A set of excellent

chapters targeted to specif‌ic countries in Africa and Asia combining theory

with empirical evidence has been presented. In post-conf‌licted situation the

role of institutions, particularly f‌inancial institutions handling f‌iscal

instability, is also highlighted. Another interesting topic in one chapter is

whether economic interdependence between contesting groups can lead to

peaceful resolution of conf‌lict. The role of international institutions like

Security Council through sanctions etc. is also discussed in a paper. Another

signif‌icant contribution of some chapters is to show how law plays a role on

pre-conf‌lict and post-conf‌lict situation emphasising the concept of liability.

It is argued that an expanded compensation regime for all civilian victims of

military action should be accepted.

Manas Chatterji

Series Editor

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