Inequality and poverty cause war

The roots of war lie in poverty: political, economic, and social inequalities whereby individuals or groups are motivated to fight to seek redress. War also often has a cultural dimension related to ethnicity or religion. Stewart (p 342) says that although all these factors predispose to conflict, a history of conflict is always a constant factor. Policies to tackle poverty in countries that are prone to conflict are essential to reduce the likelihood of war in developing countries.