Inequality increases the chances of conflict

At a later stage, inequalities have been transformed in line with the Frances Stewart (2002, 2008) theory of horizontal inequalities. Based on this actual theory “defining horizontal inequalities as inequalities in economic, social or political di-mensions or cultural status between culturally defined groups, argues that group inequality matters more than individual inequality, and that inequality becomes an important source of conflict when it overlaps with salient group identities”.5 In a general sense it is closer in perspective that “inequality triggers viola-tion and conflict. Initially the literature focused primarily on vertical inequality, but due to the inability of explaining how and why inequality mobilizes certain groups for violence, it has overwhelmed the existing literature. Therefore, the the-ories of horizontal inequality are better placed to address this question and show an increase of convergence around the conclusion that horizontal inequality is as-sociated with armed conflict. It is also noted that there are several gaps evident in the literature. First, while the evidence is strong of a positive relationship between horizontal inequality and violent armed conflict, and that political context plays an important role in this relationship, the conditions under which certain group iden-tities become relevant for mobilizing people for violence is still unclear. Second, any interaction between different types of horizontal inequality, as well as interac-tions between within-group and between group inequalities are under-studied”.6 Having said this, the examples analyzed through conflict analysis tools, would be of interest to brighten up some facts for the interethnic or intercommuni-ty relations and the momentums in which the violence has escalated to conflict, in apprehension of circumstances that led to violent situation wedged by internal and external political, economic and cultural influences. It must be outlined that the two cases of post-conflict communities with potential for violation, analyzed through conflict analysis tools do not yield the best model in generalizing the con-nection between horizontal inequalities and violent conflict, but they confirm that in specific social circumstances of heterogeneous societies, the horizontal inequal-ities feed violation and they cause conflict. Moreover, the fragile relations and the lack of democratic participatory process afterwards in building of state and con-solidation of institutions may easily replicate the aggressive steps and generate conflict.