Economic Development Strategies and the Evolution of Violence in Latin America

Economic Development Strategies and the Evolution of Violence in Latin America explores the links between Latin American governments' economic policies and the nature and dynamics of inter-group violence. Based on the patterns of ten countries, the contributions to this volume trace the remarkable transformation from open ideological conflict to the explosion of social (seemingly apolitical) violence, the upsurge of urban crime, and the confrontations over natural resources and drugs across the region spanning from Mexico to Argentina. The variations in economic success and in conflict prevention and transformation can guide policymakers, development professionals, and activists committed to conflict-sensitive development.

William Ascher is the Donald C. McKenna Professor of Government and Economics at Claremont McKenna College, USA. He is the author of Scheming for the Poor: The Politics of Redistribution in Latin America, as well as six other books on international development policy. He has taught in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Chile.

Natalia S. Mirovitskaya is a Senior Researcher and Lecturing Fellow at Duke Center for International Development, USA. She has published extensively on sustainable development, environmental security, and peacebuilding. She has led and participated in numerous national and international research projects and has taught in several countries.