Poverty

This chapter introduces readers to the literature on the relationship between poverty and conflict and the role of international law in addressing poverty. How political actors consider or neglect poverty concerns in the context of security studies matters. Poverty does not automatically lead to conflict and insecurity, but poverty and inequalities can be a crucial aspect in the explanation of conflict and post-conflict dynamics. Therefore, poverty should also be a consideration in the measures taken during conflicts, in transitional justice or post-conflict interventions. Indeed, international law provides a valuable normative framework that can be used to address poverty. At the same time, however, there is a dark side to international law where its norms and the ways in which they are used contribute to the maintenance of a world order in which most of the world’s population remains poor