New wave of internal armed conflicts in developing countries: Does inequality of opportunity matter?

Abstract

The aim of our study is to analyze the effects of opportunity inequalities on internal armed conflict in developing countries. In a panel of 69 developing countries, over the period 2000–2020 and using the Logit model, we find a positive and significant relationship between inequality of opportunity and the risk of internal armed conflict in developing countries. The effects are higher in Africa than in Asia. As our results are validated by changing the dependent variable and estimation technique, we recommend, on the one hand, increasing investment in mobility and access to basic goods and services. On the other, we recommend the creation of decent jobs through increased investment, to improve developing countries' attractiveness to foreign direct investment as a source of formal jobs.