• About us
  • GSDRC Publications
  • Research Helpdesk
  • E-Bulletin
  • Privacy policy

GSDRC

Governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian knowledge services

  • Governance
    • Democracy & elections
    • Public sector management
    • Security & justice
    • Service delivery
    • State-society relations
  • Social Development
    • Gender
    • Inequalities & exclusion
    • Social protection
    • Poverty & wellbeing
  • Humanitarian Issues
    • Humanitarian financing
    • Humanitarian response
    • Recovery & reconstruction
    • Refugees/IDPs
    • Risk & resilience
  • Conflict
    • Conflict analysis
    • Conflict prevention
    • Conflict response
    • Conflict sensitivity
    • Impacts of conflict
    • Peacebuilding
  • Development Pressures
    • Climate change
    • Food security
    • Fragility
    • Migration & diaspora
    • Population growth
    • Urbanisation
  • Approaches
    • Complexity & systems thinking
    • Institutions & social norms
    • PEA / Thinking & working politically
    • Results-based approaches
    • Theories of change
  • Aid Instruments
    • Budget support & SWAps
    • Capacity building
    • Civil society partnerships
    • Multilateral aid
    • Private sector partnerships
    • Technical assistance
  • M&E
    • Indicators
    • Learning
    • M&E approaches
Home»GSDRC Publications»Urbanisation and conflict in Pakistan

Urbanisation and conflict in Pakistan

Helpdesk Report
  • Róisín Hinds
June 2014

Question

What are the main links between urbanisation and violence in Pakistan? What positive opportunities does urbanisation offer for conflict reduction? Provide examples of donor approaches to conflict reduction in urban environments.

Summary

There is a broad body of literature on violence in Pakistan, however less specific material drawing links between urbanisation and incidences of violence. Some of the main links between urbanisation and violence identified in the available literature include:

  • Competition for resources, particularly land, water and housing.
  • Weak infrastructure.
  • Demographic change, ethnic divisions and political conflict.
  • Socio-economic disparities and unemployment.

Urbanisation can also provide some (albeit limited) opportunities for conflict reduction. If properly harnessed, the prospective economic advantages of cities could help tackle the socio-economic dimensions that contribute to violent unrest. Experts caution, however, that urbanisation is more likely to increase the chances of conflict in Pakistan, rather than providing opportunities to reduce it.

Curbing urban conflict requires a mix of economic and political solutions. Some of the programmes identified in the literature on urban conflict reduction include:

  • Public order initiatives: Including community policing and Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control programmes.
  • Employment creation: These are effective when part of wider conflict reduction strategies, such as civil society strengthening, life skills coaching and institutional strengthening of Government ministries.
  • Service delivery: Such programmes can provide opportunities for communities to work together to implement low-cost infrastructure or service provision.
  • Strengthening urban governance: Such as community councils and community safety audits.
file type icon See Full Report [PDF]

Enquirer:

  • DFID

Related Content

Responses to conflict, irregular migration, human trafficking and illicit flows along transnational pathways in West Africa
Conflict Analysis
2022
Interaction Between Food Prices and Political Instability
Helpdesk Report
2021
Trends in Conflict and Stability in the Indo-Pacific
Literature Review
2021
Gender and countering violent extremism (CVE) in the Kenya Mozambique region
Helpdesk Report
2020
birminghamids hcri

gro.crdsg@seiriuqne Feedback Disclaimer

Outputs supported by FCDO are © Crown Copyright 2023; outputs supported by the Australian Government are © Australian Government 2023; and outputs supported by the European Commission are © European Union 2023
Connect with us: facebooktwitter

Outputs supported by DFID are © DFID Crown Copyright 2023; outputs supported by the Australian Government are © Australian Government 2023; and outputs supported by the European Commission are © European Union 2023