Causes and dynamics of conflict and violence in historical perspective

Wednesday 23rd November

According to the latest World Bank World Development Report, conflict, civil wars, state failure and weak institutions are the main obstacles to economic growth and prosperity in developing economies. Although much of the current debate focusses on violence and conflict in the developing world, the same problems of poor governance and weak institutions were also endemic in much of the currently developed and industrialized economies of the Western World. The aim of this workshop is extending the scope of analysis on the causes of conflict and violence to historical societies focusing on their economic, institutional and historical context. We will pay particular attention to the links between inequality and conflict, the dynamics of agrarian and industrial conflict, the effects of changes in property rights and land reform, and the impact of state policy and institutions on conflict and violence.

Workshop organisers:
Juan Carmona, James Simpson and Jordi Domenech (Department of Economic History and Institutions, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid)

Workshop participants:
Samuel Garrido (Universitat Jaume I de Castelló)
Peter Håkansson (Universidad de Lund)
Branko Milanovic (World Bank)
Jeff Miley (University of Cambridge)
Enrique Montañés (Universidad de Cádiz)
Francisco Herreros (Fundación Juan March)
James Simpson (UC3M)
Javier Redondo (UC3M)
Juan Carmona (UC3M)
Jordi Domènech (UC3M)