Socio-Economic Uncertainty and Violent Conflicts

This paper, with reference to the literature on research on violent conflicts, discusses socio-economic uncertainty and characteristics of coping with it in the context of violent mass conflicts. Research results show that socio-economic uncertainty and insecurity are generated by violent mass conflicts in various ways. Certain groups of people during and following violent conflicts are specifically exposed to high levels of socio-economic uncertainty. Three aspects of coping with socio-economic uncertainty are addressed: risk taking, trust and the availability or lack of resources. In the context of violent conflicts an important characteristic of coping with socio-economic uncertainty is taking high risks. In conditions of violent mass conflicts both socio-economic uncertainty and the possible ways of coping with it are linked to the factors of conflicts themselves, including changes in aspects of social cohesion.