TY - JOUR
T1 - Rapid urbanization and the growing threat of violence and conflict
T2 - A 21st century crisis
AU - Patel, Ronak B.
AU - Burkle, Frederick M.
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - As the global population is concentrated into complex environments, rapid urbanization increases the threat of conflict and insecurity. Many fast-growing cities create conditions of significant disparities in standards of living, which set up a natural environment for conflict over resources. As urban slums become a haven for criminal elements, youth gangs, and the arms trade, they also create insecurity for much of the population. Specific populations, such as women, migrants, and refugees, bear the brunt of this lack of security, with significant impacts on their livelihoods, health, and access to basic services. This lack of security and violence also has great costs to the general population, both economic and social. Cities have increasingly become the battlefield of recent conflicts as they serve as the seats of power and gateways to resources. International agencies, non-governmental organizations, and policy-makers must act to stem this tide of growing urban insecurity. Protecting urban populations and preventing future conflict will require better urban planning, investment in livelihood programs for youth, cooperation with local communities, enhanced policing, and strengthening the capacity of judicial systems.
AB - As the global population is concentrated into complex environments, rapid urbanization increases the threat of conflict and insecurity. Many fast-growing cities create conditions of significant disparities in standards of living, which set up a natural environment for conflict over resources. As urban slums become a haven for criminal elements, youth gangs, and the arms trade, they also create insecurity for much of the population. Specific populations, such as women, migrants, and refugees, bear the brunt of this lack of security, with significant impacts on their livelihoods, health, and access to basic services. This lack of security and violence also has great costs to the general population, both economic and social. Cities have increasingly become the battlefield of recent conflicts as they serve as the seats of power and gateways to resources. International agencies, non-governmental organizations, and policy-makers must act to stem this tide of growing urban insecurity. Protecting urban populations and preventing future conflict will require better urban planning, investment in livelihood programs for youth, cooperation with local communities, enhanced policing, and strengthening the capacity of judicial systems.
KW - conflict
KW - security
KW - urban violence
KW - urbanization
KW - war
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862516254&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84862516254&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1049023X12000568
DO - 10.1017/S1049023X12000568
M3 - Article
C2 - 22591767
AN - SCOPUS:84862516254
SN - 1049-023X
VL - 27
SP - 194
EP - 197
JO - Prehospital and disaster medicine
JF - Prehospital and disaster medicine
IS - 2
ER -