CIVIL VIOLENCE AND THE SATISFACTION OF BASIC HUMAN NEEDS

For years specialists believed economic growth would raise incomes and eliminate poverty. Recently this gave way to a new development approach, satisfying basic human needs. This research examines the basic human needs approach. Specifically, it looks at how needs satisfaction affects civil violence. Chapters 1 and 2 review literature describing basic human needs policies and theories of violence. Chapter 3 examines the relationship between needs and violence levels in twenty countries for a fifteen-year period. Needs levels are measured by a composite index, the satisfaction of basic needs index. Violence levels are measured by events data. The empirical study concludes by identifying four countries. These countries (Argentina, Philippines, Mexico, Netherlands) represent high and low levels of needs satisfaction and high and low levels of violence. A comparative study of the four countries allows more detailed consideration of causes of violence in the countries. Results indicate needs satisfaction levels have no effect on levels of violence. Yet, violence and needs satisfaction levels are related. Both result when social and political structures prevent a just distribution of material and nonmaterial needs. To successfully implement the basic needs strategy, these inequities must change. If they change, life styles can improve and civil violence will decline. The study concludes by arguing the basic needs strategy seems unlikely to succeed. Present commitment to needs satisfaction is insufficient. Financial commitment from advanced nations falls far short of needed amounts. Current aid policies emphasize strategy more than humanitarian goals. Structural changes must come from within underdeveloped countries. Needs satisfaction requires sacrifice and political will missing in current aid programs.