Conflicts Are Inevitable In Human Life Politics Essay

Conflicts Are Inevitable In homos Life Politics EssayConflicts atomic tot up 18 inevitable in human being life and existence and argon a necessary part of life. Conflicts atomic number 18 necessary for change in human ordination since they aid to build relationships in groups, establish a groups individuation, build internal cohesion in groups and can lead to balance of power in society as hale up as create new rules and laws (Coser, 1956). However, when affairs ar raging, and dep discontinueing on the nature and type of hindrance schemes utilize, they remain un fade break finishedd and can become protracted disrupting policy- devising and learning since attention is diverted from issues that both(prenominal)ow for otherwise improve the lives of masses to the betrothal.Consequently, it is outstanding to resolve tearing make dos to prevent these negates from diverting attention from issues of victimisation. Historic wholey, the freshman and second world wars consequented in massive destruction of attribute and human life and a precipitate in takes of socio- sparing phylogeny in poor nations (Blattman Miguel, 2008). During the Second World War, for instance, about 60 million pot died, a new wave of build up race arose and nations like Ger numerous had many properties destroyed (Blattman Miguel, 2008). Then came the frozen War with its manifestations of proxy and quasi departures in developing countries of Europe, Africa, Asia and America. risky negates poses serious threats to human gage, peace, life, stableness, favorable and frugal activities weakens institutions breaks social cohesion and causes humanitarian tragedies such as internal displacement, refugeeism and rape (Zeleza, 2008). Indeed, violent divergence is unrivalled main impediment to development because it can seriously hinder development efforts spilling over borders, reducing economic growth and prosperity (Ali, 2006). The examples of Haiti, Bosnia, Bu rundi, Sudan and Somalia argon worth noning as development in these republics has been seriously curtailed because violent contrasts micturate endangered great deals lives and continue to worsen the poverty built in bed in these countries. During the difference in the Democratic res publica of Congo (DRC), the coun adjudicate lost 2 percent of Gross Domestic result (GDP) as well as losses in other economic indicators (Oelbaum, 2007). In the West African sub- argonna, countries like Liberia, sierra Leone, Nigeria, La Cote dIvoire and Guinea demand had violent impinges with their annihilating consequences on stability, political and social development of these takes (Adetula, 2006). to a greater extent than 250,000 lives were lost in Liberia and millions worth of infrastructure destroyed (Adetula, 2006).During violent conflicts, farmers cannot go to their farms to work for fear of losing their lives and farms argon set ablaze leading to the destruction of farm produce. Tr aders and businessmen cannot operate on in commercialized activities passing markets deserted. Properties of individuals and households are lost through arson and looting. Local revenue mobilizations are seriously curtailed ascribable to the division of commercial activities and warranter. Moreover, schools are closed d admit affecting the work of teachers and students since they cannot attend school which negatively affects pedantic performance. Businesses and most of the workforce also relocate to other places where there is peace (absence of rage). Consequently, many development efforts are negatively affected, because peace which is needed to ensure development is absent.However, where peace prevails and there is no violent conflict, hostage measure is guaranteed and the environment becomes conducive for engaging in economic and farming(a) activities and, packs livelihoods can be ensured (Francis, 2006). many another(prenominal) people can move about freely without restrictions since their certificate is guaranteed. Also, local investments and businesses are attracted to peaceful areas than places where there are violence and, normally, people are able to participate in the development routine. Thus peace corpse a pre-requisite for development since development can best be engaged in a violent free environment.The end of the Cold War saw a spate of new and different conflicts in many parts of the world with specific causes with Africa getting her share of these conflicts. These were intra- enjoin conflicts which included predominantly, pagan conflicts mingled with rival heathenish groups, conflicts over succession and power struggles inside the state and conflicts over the control of state resources (Idowu, 2005). From 1946-2010, the world has had 243 conflicts, out of which 36 broadside been active since 2009 (Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2010). Most of these conflicts in several parts of Africa earn often been driven by e thnic contest for power, land, resources and the struggle for personal identity and, in recent times, political infiltrations (Osaghae, 2005). These ethnic conflicts, such as the Sudanese, Burundian and Democratic Republic of Congos conflicts, have created deep-seated hatred and destructions with their attendant manifestations of genocide, mistrust, inequality in the distri unlession of power and resources among ethnic groups in these states. Many of these intra-state conflicts became protracted and thus affected development with severe consequences not only for various nations but individuals and families.gold coast has often been described at both(prenominal) local and inter internal levels as an oasis of peace and stability in a continent besieged by conflicts. The peaceful organization of the 2008 general elections has made gold coast a beacon of hope for democracy, good governance, stability and peace in Africa. The American Fund for mollification in 2009 described Ghana as the most peaceful and stable pastoral in Africa (Myjoyonline, July 15, 2009). contrasted her neighbours, Ghana remains relatively peaceful and has not experienced any violent conflict of a national scale.However, Ghanas image as a beacon of peace in Africa is marred by both(prenominal) internecine ethnic, land and chieftaincy conflicts which several(prenominal)times result into violent ones with negative consequences for human lives and local level development (Gyimah, Kane Oduro, 2009). Most conflicts in Ghana are localized inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic disputes that mainly result from disputes over chieftaincy, land, identity and resources and, in much recent years, political and economic connections (Kendie Akudugu, 2010 Tsikata Seini, 2004). Although some of these ethnic conflicts have always remained localized, they have often drawn national and international attention since their consequences have a toll on national resources and development (Agyeman, 2008). Resources such as financial allocations or revenue mobilizations which otherwise could be used for development are channeled into maintaining peace and certification measure in these areas. Also, localized activities such as agriculture, industry, commerce, business investments and livelihoods are disrupted. The Konkomba and Nanumba/Dagomba conflict in 1994/95, for instance, resulted in the loss of 2000 lives and 18,900 animals, over 500,000 tubers of yam destroyed, 60,000 acres of crops set on fire, 144 farming villages burnt, 78,000 people displaced and millions of property belonging to the state and indigenes destroyed (Mahama, 2003).It is worth noting that ethnic relations among many of the respective(a) ethnic groups in Ghana have remained cordial as compared to others in the continent such as Nigeria, Rwanda and La Cote dIvoire (Gyimah, Kane Oduro, 2009). This is because ethnic relations among the ethnic groups in Ghana have not degenerated into conflict of a national scale as it i s the case with Nigeria, Rwanda and Cote dIvoire. at that place have, however, been very devastating and protracted ethnic strifes among some ethnic groups in Ghana. Notable among these are the intra-ethnic conflicts among the Dagombas, the Ewes of Peki-Tsito and the inter-ethnic conflicts mingled with the Kusasis and Mamprusis, Konkomba and Nanumba/Dagomba, Nkonya (Guan) and Alavanyo (Ewe) people, the Akropong-Akwapim and Abiriw people and Gonja and Nawuri people (Agyeman, 2008).Many of these localized conflicts in Ghana have assumed a protracted nature with occasional flaring up of violence which has negative impact on local and general development in these areas (Akwetey, 1996). The Dagbon chieftaincy, Bunkpurugu-Yunyo, the Buipe chieftaincy and Akropong-Akwapem and Abiriw land conflicts are yet to be resolved, and occasional violence in these areas pose grave danger to localized development efforts and many poor and marginalized people become the principal victims of these vio lence. One such conflict also is the Bawku conflict.The conflict is a deep-seated and longstanding ethno-political conflict between the Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Bawku conventional eye socket of Ghana. The Bawku Traditional domain of a function is one of the largest areas in the Upper East Region of Ghana located in the north-eastern part of the region and shares borders with Togo and Burkina Faso (GhanaDistricts.com, 2009, June 12). The economic base of the area is mainly agriculture, although trade and commerce are also conducted. Ethnically, the Bawku Traditional Area is occupied by Kusasis, Mamprusis, Busangas, Hausas, Mossis, Bimobas, Frafras and other minor groups with the Kusasis being the majority in terms of population (Bawku municipal Assembly, 2006).The Bawku conflict is identity-based, and revolves around the claim for traditionalistic political power (chieftaincy) between the Kusasis and Mamprusis. The contest between the Kusasis and Mamprusis over the Bawku chie ftaincy has its roots in colonial times. Since the 1930s, the conflict has taken different twists and has remained intense and unresolved, and therefore protracted. there appears to be apparent political interference in the conflict and this has intensified violence in Bawku, booth development efforts in the area (Lund, 2003). The primary actors in the conflict the Kusasis and Mamprusis have taken entrenched positions making closedown efforts difficult and almost impossible.Since the inception of the Bawku conflict, frantic efforts have been made at resolving it. The colonial disposal established the Opoku-Afari Committee in 1957 to help resolve the conflict when disputing claims for the chieftaincy started. The enactment of discipline Liberation Council (NLC) Decree 112 and Provisional case Defence Council Law (PNDCL) 75, which although were not directly intended for the Bawku conflict only, was also used in a bid to help end the conflict, but these have failed. Government s have also used mediation to help end the conflict. In 2008, the then President of Ghana, washstand A. Kufuor, invited both the Kusasis and Mamprusis to The Castle (seat of Ghanas Government) to broker peace between them but this failed. This was followed by mediation by the National two-eyed violet Council (NPC), but the conflict still continued. In March 2009, following the outbreak of violence, Vice President John Mahama embarked on a mediation mission to help resolve the conflict between the two factions but the violence still continued. This was again followed by a visit by President John Atta mill about to Bolgatanga to help broker peace between the two groups but it also failed to bring the desired peace. altogether these mediation efforts have thus failed to end the conflict.The two ethnic groups have also resorted to the law judicial systems to keystone their claim for the Bawku skin. These include writ filed by the Mamprusis at the divisional court to reverse the Go vernor Generals determination in 1957 the Kusasis counter writ at the Appeal Court in 1958 to overturn the ruling by the divisional court and again the Mamprusis court action for their claim to the Bawku skin in 2003. All these court actions have apparently failed to bring an end to the conflict. Governments have also instituted internal peace-keeping operations by deploying trade protection personnel to the area and used the imposition of curfews to manage the conflict, but the conflict still rages on.A number of CSOs /NGOs since 2001 have also made efforts at mediating to end the conflict through peace building processes and conflict resolution mechanisms. These efforts include the Bawku stop Accord reached between the stakeholders in the conflict at the Damongo Peace Agreement, which was spearheaded by a consortium of NGOs mediating in the conflict, including Action Aid Ghana, the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Advocacy Peace Group IBIS (Ghana), the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Christian Council of Ghana and the Bawku East Womens Development Association (BEWDA). The National Peace Council (NPC) has also mediated and drawn up a roadmap to peace but has not helped to end the conflict. In addition, an Inter-ethnic Peace Committee was formed in 2010 by both ethnic groups to help resolve the conflict (WANEP, 2010). The aforementioned efforts have all failed to bring the needed resolution of the conflict and peace to the Traditional Area.The protracted nature of the conflict has implications for development in the area. Its continuation poses threats to commerce, agriculture, education, wellnesscare, security and general development of the traditional area. When peace and security in the area is guaranteed, sustained development is likely to be pursued.Statement of the puzzleViolent conflicts have very devastating consequences on local level development because they produce a cycle of violence and depending on the nature and type of i ntervention, can result in the protraction of conflicts. The uninterrupted violence in Bawku as a result of the conflict has consequences on the development of the area, as well as the resources of the nation in general. The violence in the area is a bane to agriculture, commerce, human lives, property and infrastructure, and is exacerbating the poverty situation in the area (Daily Graphic, June 8, 2008). physical compositions of the conflict indicate that there is general hazard and lawlessness in the area, and this results in the imposition of frequent curfews which curtail free movement of people and the brutalization of civilians during curfew hours (Amnesty International Ghana, 2008). Localized development efforts like agriculture and commerce are curtailed. Besides, cross-border trading and other commercial activities in the Bawku area have also been affected.The loss of lives in the area has become a everyday routine as many lives are unaccounted for. There is also conti nuous destruction of property and infrastructure. In the wake of the violence in December 2007, 155 shops and many houses were burnt and several people displaced (Ghanaweb, January 7, 2008). The state continues to spend money and resources in deploying security personnel to the area to maintain peace. The conflict leads to proliferation of illegal arms which continue to be used in perpetuating violence. The overall impact of all these is deepening of the poverty situation in the area.With the realization by government, CSOs/NGOs, some international organizations and even the indigenes of the area of the need for a concluding resolution of the conflict, many efforts have been made to resolve the conflict to bring sustainable peace to produce development in the area. However, efforts by government, NGOs and other stakeholders at finding a lasting solution to the conflict through committees of enquiry, mediation, inter-ethnic peace dialogues, peacekeeping operations, law and order an d the use of the court system have not yielded the desired results at finding sustainable peace and a final resolution to the protracted conflict between the two ethnic groups.Critical analyses of the protracted nature of the conflict bring into question what election resolution mechanisms can be used to resolve the conflict or complement both government and CSOs/NGOs efforts at finally resolving the conflict to enhance peace and development in the area. Besides, the protracted nature of the conflict and frequent eruption of violence directly have a relationship with development and indeed the need to analyze the ramifications of the conflict on socio-economic development of the Bawku Traditional Area. It is in the light of the above that this ask seeks to research into how the conflict in the Bawku Traditional Area affects socio-economic development of the area.Objectives of the demandThe general objective of the orbit was to examine how the ethnic conflict in the Bawku Tradit ional Area affects socio-economic development in the area.The specific objectives of the study were toAscertain the make of the Bawku ethnic conflict on agriculture in the areaExamine the effectuate of the conflict on commercial activities in the areaExamine the effects of the conflict on general security in the traditional areaAscertain the effects of the conflict on education and health care in the areaExamine the prospects for peace in the area andMake recommendations for peaceful resolution of the conflict.Research questionsThe study employed the following research questions in investigating the problemWhat are the effects of the Bawku ethnic conflict on agriculture in the traditional area?What are the effects of the conflict on commercial activities in the area?How is the conflict in the Bawku Traditional area affecting security in the area?What are the effects of the conflict on education and health care in the area?What are the prospects for peace in the traditional area?Re levance of the studyThe frequent riposte of the Bawku conflict remains a source of worry to many people, the inhabitants of Bawku, government and NGOs. Despite government efforts and a lot of efforts by NGOs that have been made to resolve the conflict, the erratic and frequent outbreak of the conflict between the two feuding ethnic groups seem to elude any workable solution for a final cloture and sustainable peace and this tends to be negatively affecting local level development. It is claimed that government has spent to a greater extent than GH648 million on maintaining security in northern Ghana alone since 2002 (Kumateh, 2005 cited in Aganah, 2008).It has been the desire and spare-time activity of government and NGOs to resolve the ethnic conflict in Bawku and other ethnic conflicts around the country to pick at their impact on development efforts. The attempts over the years at resolving the conflict have all failed to bring lasting peace to Bawku. This study will provide and add to empirical knowledge on the nexus between ethnic conflict and development, as well as empirical communicateation on the effects of protracted conflicts on development. The results of this study will also provide pragmatic information to help resolve the Bawku conflict and other protracted ethnic conflicts around the country. It is equally hoped that the findings and recommendations of this study would be of divert to government, who is a major stakeholder in the conflict, NGOs and other interest groups impactd in conflict and development.All researches on the conflict are aimed at how to resolve the conflict. This study examines the effects of the conflict on development to inform all stakeholders on the deleterious ramifications of the conflict in the hope that the protagonists would see the need for peace.Organization of the studyThe study is organized into six chapters. Chapter One presents the introductory part of the whole study which includes the background to the study, the narration of the problem, the objectives of the study, the research questions, the relevance of the study and how the study is organized. Chapter Two examines a re guess of relevant literature on the study. This covers relevant issues such as development, conflict, the impact of conflict on development and the relationship between conflict resolution and development. Theoretical bases and a impressionual framework of the study are also examined in this chapter.Chapter three examines the Bawku conflict into detail tracing its historical basis, dynamics, causes and current developments. Chapter Four deals with the methodology used in carrying out the study. It comprises a description of the study area, the study design, the population, the sample for the study, the sampling techniques, the data collection techniques and the data digest procedure. The presentation and analyses of the results are the focus of Chapter Five. Chapter Six finally presents summary of the find ings, conclusions and recommendations.CHAPTER TWOREVIEW OF LITERATURE entrancewayThis chapter reviews literature related to the subject matter of the study. These include the review of concepts as well as the divinatory and conceptual frameworks for the study.DevelopmentThe term development has been used and defined variously by different scholars at length. However, the term is generally about change and growth in human wellbeing at the individual, community, regional, national, or global circles. Historically, development used to be equated to economic growth and generally concerned with the ability of a countrys economy to increase and sustain its Gross National Product (GNP) or Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in real items. In this way, development was measured in terms of real growth in per capita income (Schoeman, 1998).Since the 1950s, the meaning of the term development has changed from merely looking at development as an increase in GNP or GDP. According to Stewart (2004), t his is a very inadequate characterization and definition of the term development. There is now a change towards alternative development strategies due to the inadequacy of the economic growth look-alike (Kendie, 2002). Development generally is about improvement and qualitative change in the lives of individual people or an entire society. Development, concord to Todaro (1997, p. 9), is a multidimensional process involving major changes in social structures, popular attitudes and institutions, as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and eradication of poverty. This involves changes in human conditions which involve serious facets such as economic well-being, security, reduction in inequality and poverty, the absence of violent conflict and its proper resolution and management.Todaro Smith (2009) observe that there are three important aspects of development altitude peoples level of living their incomes and consumption levels of food, education , medical services etc.Creating conditions conducive for the growth of peoples self-esteem through the establishment of social, political and economic systems and institutions that promote human dignity and respect andIncreasing peoples freedom by enlarging the range of their choice variables by increasing varieties of consumer goods and services.Stewart (2004) equally conceptualized development simply as a mount in human well-being. This includes well-being in the general life of human beings including peoples health, education and security. The reference to security presupposes the absence of violent conflict and a proper resolution and management of these conflicts when they occur. Similarly, Ibeanu (2006, p. 10) posits that development is a process of improving the conditions in which human beings live. Ibeanu (2006) believes that these conditions emanate from a complex interplay of both the natural environment and the social or inter-human environment. These include peace, jus tice and security which are important tenets of development. Amartya Sen (1999) also sees development simply as freedom. that is freedom in all forms economic, social and political freedom. Sen believes that political freedom empowers individuals to build their capabilities for development.One important tenet that can ensure development is human security the ability of people to be safe. Violent conflict which constitutes an obstacle to security is a serious impediment to development, and development cannot be realized in an insecure and conflictual environment. The UNDP Human Development Report of 1994 notes that human security is an important part of development and development can only occur in a peaceful society (UNDP, 1994).Human securitySecurity, fit to Francis (2006, p.22), is generally about the condition or feeling safe from harm or danger, the defence, protection and conservation of core values, and the absence of threats to acquire values. Security is about conditions that ensure human existence and survival. Peace, development and justice, oddly in Africa, are important conditions of security since the absence of these can create conditions for conflict and insecurity (Francis, 2006). The security of humans remains a very important part of their well-being and development. The term human security was first initiated in 1994 by the UNDP Human Development Report to focus security from the point of view of people, as opposed to that of the security of states (Jolly Ray, 2006). Thus human security is people-centred security or security with a human face, which places human beings-rather than states-as the focal point of security considerations (United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), 2009). Since then, discussions on security have been focused on human security than states security.In defining human security, the UNDP (1994, p. 3) states that for besides long, the concept of security has been shaped by the potential for confl ict between states. For too long, security has been equated with threats to a countrys borders. For too long, nations have sought arms to protect their security. For most people today, a feeling of insecurity arises more from worries about daily life than from the dread of a cataclysmic world event. Job security, health security, environmental security, security from crime, these are the emerging concerns of human security all over the world.The simplest definition of human security, according to Jolly Ray (2006, p. 6), is primarily an analytical tool that focuses on ensuring security for the individual, not the state. Tadjbakhsh (2005) also conceptualizes human security as freedom from fear and freedom from want. That is to be secure is to be free from both fear (of physical, sexual or psychological abuse, violence, persecution, or death) and from want (of gainful employment, food, and health).The UN Commission on Human Security (CHS) (2003) gives a broader definition of human sec urity as the protection of the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human fulfillment. According to the CHS, this meansProtecting elementary rights and freedomsProtecting people from severe and widespread threats and circumstanceMotivating and empowering people to take their destiny into their own hands andProviding the necessary political, social, environmental, economic, military as well as cultural framework and systems within which people can live meaningful and dignified lives (CHS, 2003, p.4).Thus, the key premises of human security contained in the UNDP 1994 Report (1994) are (i) its focus on freedom from fear and freedom from want, and (ii) its four emphasis on universality, interdependence, prevention, and people-centredness. The elements of human security include violent conflict poverty humanitarian crises epidemic diseases injustice inequality fear and wants (Alkire, 2003).Violent conflict remains one major threat to human security in th at it threatens peoples opportunities for their well-being including their freedom from fear and want, and limit their opportunities for development. Violent conflicts deny humans the security to engage in their commercial, agricultural and other activities. According to the CHS (2003), some strategies must be put in place to ensure the security of people in relation to violent conflict. These include protecting people caught up in violent conflict through incorporating in the agenda of international, regional and security organizations, designing a holistic get down to protect people caught up in violent conflict and curbing further violence empowering people recovering from violent conflict through conflict resolution and prevention and building social protraction systems for the poor after conflict.ConflictConflict is one of the most inevitable affaires in life and occurs at all levels of human society at home, school, the family, society or at the work level. The term, howeve r, has been defined and used differently. According to Lund (1997), conflict occurs when two or more parties pursue incompatible interests or goals through actions that the parties try to undo or damage each other. These parties could be individuals, groups or countries. The parties interests can differ over access to resources, the control of political or traditional power, their identity and values or ideology (Maiese, 2003). The realization of these inevitably and interests by people can lead to conflict. When two groups or individuals such as ethnic groups pursue incompatible interests and needs which could either be political, economic, social or cultural, they can engage in conflict which can be violent.In the opinion of Coser (1956, p. 121), conflict occurs when two or more people engage in a struggle over values and claims to status, power and resources in which the aims of the opponents are to neutralize, injure or eliminate their rivals. Coser seeks to argue that people in conflict are in competition or struggle over their identity, resources or power in which the conflicting parties attempt to undo one another. One thing that is worth mentioning in Cosers definition is the fact that it identifies the causes of conflicts which include struggles over peoples identity, power and resources. Conflict, therefore, is a struggle which is either positive or negative between two individuals or groups in pursuit of interests and goals on which they crisply disagree.Ethnic conflictsAccording to Richardson Jr. Sen (1996), an ethnic conflict is a struggle between rival ethnic groups who seek to get control of political power to maintain it. This is usually done through ethnicity, which plays an important role in mobilizing, structuring and managing ethnic groups and institutions. This definition recognizes that political power is the rationale behind ethnic conflict. Indeed, many ethnic groups fight over the control of political power which can either be sta te or traditional power in order to gain control over political institutions within the state or traditional area. However, many proximate causes such as the struggle for resources could also account for ethnic conflicts. Political power cannot, therefore, be the only cause of ethnic conflicts.According to Maiese (2003), ethnic conflicts are conflicts over peoples identity that are internal among or between ethnic groups within a country who tend to compete for resources, power or claims over their status and not between states. To this end, Irobi (2005) and Agyeman (2008) maintain that ethnic conflicts which are conflicts over race, identity and language become complex, and this makes it very difficult to resolve them primarily due to ethnicity which defines the totality of an individuals existence including his hopes, fears and sense of future. Ethnic conflicts have induced over 70 percent of conflicts in the world Center for Development and conflict Management (CIDCM), 2009. Afri ca, Asia, America and Europe have all experienced variable degrees of ethnic conflicts with dire consequences. In Africa, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Ghana have experienced devastating ethnic conflicts. There are also longstanding ethnic conflicts in Sri Lanka, Kosovo, Bosnia and former Yugoslavia.Generally, ethnic conflicts result from