Conflict, Crime and Violence
Making Societies More Resilient to Violence

Violence exacts a high cost on world development. In about 60 countries, over the last ten years, violence has significantly and directly reduced economic growth. It has hampered poverty reduction efforts and limited progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. About half of these 60 countries currently experience violent conflict or are in post-conflict transition. The other half experience high levels of violent crime, street violence, domestic violence, and other kinds of common violence. “Common violence” is defined in opposition to politically motivated violence. Therefore, common violence is considered violence occurring as a result of social conflict not related to political motives or events (such as war, genocide, and assassinations).  It is often, though not always, related to personal and property crime. Common violence has often increased significantly in post-conflict countries after large-scale political motivated violence ends.

The Social Development department in the Sustainable Development Vice Presidency has set-up a new team working on conflict, crime and violence. This team will pursue some of the work previously covered by the Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction unit, but will broaden its approaches. The objective of this team is to support the World Bank’s efforts to make societies more resilient to violence.

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