UN General Assembly
2012

a cursory look at the conflict hotspots around the world shows us the dangerous consequences of a disenfranchised and despondent citizenry. Durable solutions can come only from an inclusive approach to both politics and development. Secondly, thorough analysis of the specific political and cultural contexts of any given conflict is key to finding lasting solutions. Too often, the inclination is to parachute into a situation with ready- made answers based on a superficial examination of the conflict’s dynamics, doing considerably more harm than good, despite good intentions. There is no one-size-fits-all remedy; these issues are complex and should be approached as such to arrive at the best possible outcome. Thirdly, the links between conflict and development are often overlooked. If we are looking for peaceful ways to resolve and prevent conflicts, promoting development tops the list. The stakes are high. A civil conflict costs the average developing country about 30 years of gross domestic product growth, and violence can easily spill over borders, threatening hard-won progress. Since security and development cannot be achieved without each other, we