Internal Security and Economic Cost of Violence: An Analysis

Abstract

South Asia is one of the most unstable and volatile regions of the world and stands second least peaceful region out of nine regions that were evaluated by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The ranking of the peacefulness of most of the South Asian countries is also rather low. In a developing country like India, the economic cost of violence at 5 percent of its GDP is too high. The causes of internal conflicts can be attributed to factors like ineffectiveness of the governance systems, sub-nationalism, deprivations, discrimination, social injustice, ethnic, sectarian, and religious polarisation, socio-economic exclusion, identity crisis, and competition for fast depleting crucial resources. These conflicts manifest in the form of insurgencies, terrorism, low-intensity armed conflicts, civil wars, and related political violence. There is a definite relationship between terrorism and internal armed conflicts, as both generally follow near similar contours. The terrorists have tried to destroy the very idea of India - democratic, secular, growth-oriented economy, excellence in IT and industry. Almost all elements of national power have a role - direct or indirect - on matters of national security, to suppress internal armed conflicts, and finally to resolve them. The legitimate aspirations and grievances of the people must be identified region-wise and addressed with a sense of urgency. The Government needs to formulate a comprehensive National Security Strategy (CNSS), to give a definite direction to the role of each element of national power in the short and long term, and minimize its economic cost of violence.