The post-Millennium Development Goal (MDG) framework offers the opportunity to develop targets that reflects a more nuanced understanding of the challenge of development. A number of areas are being considered for inclusion in the post-2015 framework, on the basis of their causal or correlated relationship with development. One area in which significant work has been undertaken since the MDGs were agreed in 2000 has been in relation to the role that insecurity or violence plays in constraining development and, concomitantly, the enabling role that peace and stability play in promoting it.1
The Millennium Project noted in 2005 that: ‘of the 34 poor countries farthest from reaching the Goals, 22 are in or emerging from conflict’ (2005: 183). These seeming correlations between insecurity and a lack of progress towards the MDGs thus tapped into ongoing research on quantitative measures of how insecurity limited opportunities for development. According to Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development many societies affected with armed conflict and criminal armed violence is in the lower ranks of Human Development Index (HDI).2
Violent Conflict and Development:
The relationship between security and development has become a mainstay of development policy. Violence and fragility are considered the largest obstacle to the MDGs.3 The post-2015 agenda needs to take a comprehensive approach guided by the Millennium Declaration, which included fundamental values and goals on peace, security and disarmament; development and poverty eradication; human rights democracy and good governance; and protecting the vulnerable.
The nature of violent conflicts has changed drastically in recent decades. The predominant form of violent conflict has evolved from national armies fighting each other; to armies fighting for independence, separation or political control; to various forms of violence, involving