International Peace and Economic Development (Essay Sample)

Importance of International Peace to Economic Growth of Developing Countries
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September 28, 2021
Importance of International Peace to Economic Growth of Developing Countries
The parable of the sower (Matthew 13: 1-9) fits as an allegory on economic growth in developing countries, with the fertile ground being peaceful—with peace as defined by Galtung (1985) as the absence of all forms of violence, physical and structural—countries that support the thriving of the seed. Economic growth (the germination, development, and maturation of the sowed seed) denotes the expansion of production and economic opportunities of a country. However, the international arena is a motley of rocks, thorns, and birds in the form of invasions, coups, terrorists, and uprisings that have conspired to ensure that the seed does not take root. I examine the influence of international peace on economic development by noting the effects of its absence in some countries, where civil strife has led to a refugee crisis, lack of foreign direct investment, and failed states leading to a fall or stagnation of GDP.
A refugee crisis is the first feature of the breakdown of peace in a country. The safety and security of the people is the cardinal responsibility of states; when individuals feel a threat to their security and cannot rely on the state to protect them, they move to areas where they feel safe. The middle class, which forms the bulk of the educated class in developing states, is the first to leave with its access to air tickets and visas. With them goes the skilled labour that a country requires to grow its economy. Next in line are the workers who drive the trucks and machines to distribute and produce goods who trudge along with the consumers, condemning such a country to economic stagnation.
Secondly, a country on its way to war bleeds its foreign exchange reserves. Fleeing bureaucrats, diplomats and investors stuff whatever dollars they can in suitcases and wire the rest. Foreign Direct Investments and tourism grind to a halt. Afghanistan and semi-autonomous Kashmir are good examples as hardly any tourists visit their picturesque mountains, lakes, and forests after the onset of insurgencies in the regions (Slathia, 2019).
Lastly, war erodes the capacity of the state to deliver on its responsibilities. A functional and caring state invests in public services – such as schools, hospitals, and roads – that provide avenues for the poor to enjoy the good life. Taxes diminish as c