The Bloody Millennium: Internal Conflict In South Asia

This paper documents the short-term and long-term trends in internal conflict in South Asian countries, using multiple data sources. Analyzing the role of economic, geographic and demographic factors, the author finds that poorer areas have significantly higher levels of conflict intensity. The paper reviews the various approaches taken by governments to deal with conflict, contrasting security-based approaches with political accommodation and economic approaches. Finally, the paper reviews the potential role of regional cooperation in mitigating conflict.