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| >> Foreign Aid in the National Interest >> Chapter 4 >> Foreign assistance, conflict management and conflict mitigation |
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Jump to Chapter 4 Sections:
In thinking about how foreign assistance can influence the causes of conflict discussed above,
it is useful to think about overt violence or open conflict as the middle part of a continuum dividing the stages of conflict, from before to after. At either end of the continuum is relative stability, not perfect harmony. Disagreements, divisions, and disputes still exist, but institutions can manage and channel them.
Young people and violenceWhile research has shown a link between large youth cohorts and violence, large numbers of young people need not be destabilizing-and in fact, can be an extraordinary resource for positive change. At the heart of whether this group is an easy target for those seeking to mobilize violence is whether the existing system can offer them hope for a viable future. In this respect, working with local governments and business groups to generate youth employment may be among the most important contributions that foreign assistance can make to conflict management and mitigation -particularly if these efforts are targeted to extremely vulnerable populations of young people, such as young men in urban areas. Gearing education to available job opportunities and relevant skills training is another important intervention. And outside the economic realm there are a broad range of activities-sporting events, health programs, cultural events, environmental activities, democratic education, political participation-that can draw out the constructive rather than destructive potential of young people. page 2 |
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