Crime and Social Cohesion in the Time of Crisis: Early Evidence of Wider Impacts of Food, Fuel and Financial Shocks
Abstract
Economic crises have a series of impacts on society and security, depending on their severity, and
on people’s capacities to cope with and adapt to stresses on livelihoods and community relations. This article
highlights findings about how local-level security and social relations have been affected by the global food,
fuel and financial shocks since 2008. Based on original research from a qualitative and participatory study in
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya and Zambia in early 2009, it discusses local perspectives on how
crime and social cohesion have been affected across ten case study communities involved in the study. It
identifies a number of common directions of change categorised here as broadly ‘crime’. It is suggested that
crime and social cohesion are important potential indicators of the impact of economic crisis. The article
concludes with a discussion of the poverty, political and governance implications of crisis-driven impacts on
crime and social cohesion.
Citation
Hossain, N. (2009) Crime and Social Cohesion in the Time of Crisis: Early Evidence of Wider Impacts of Food, Fuel and Financial Shocks, IDS Bulletin 40.5, Brighton: IDSDOI
10.19088/1968-2018.125Is part of series
IDS Bulletin;49.1ARights holder
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