NYU-A#4-MH Maura Hegarty Peace and Security and Economic and Social Development Assignment #4 _________________________________________________________________________________________       World prosperity is a lofty goal, which many nations and international organizations strive to achieve. However, there are many issues plaguing international society that prevent the obtainment of this goal.  Domestic and international problems range from the economic and social arena to matters of international peace and security.With such a myriad issues facing leaders today the question must be asked: what holds the greatest promise for world prosperity?  Should world leaders and international organizations concentrate on international peace and security or economic and social development?          According to Article 1 of the United Nations Charter, the organizations primary goal is to maintain international peace and security. Though economic and social development may not play as prominent of a role in the charter, it still has a significant presence due to its interdependence with peace and security. Article 1 clearly states this interdependence: the UN will “take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace.” It is important to realize that threats to peace are not only found in the military and security realm. Lack of economic and social development is one of the greatest threats to peace.  Therefore, before peace and security is achieved, economic and social development must occur. The necessity of economic and social development becomes obvious upon examination of current “hot spots.” Post-Colonial Africa and post-Communist Eastern Europe are riddled by internal and external conflict.  A considerable amount of this friction is due to a poorly developed social and economic base.  These nations struggle to survive in a globalized economy where they lack the basic infrastructure and capital.  Social issues such as a lack of education and undemocratic and inaccessible governments compound these economic problems.  As a result, these nations are poor, underdeveloped and dependent on “Northern” loans and aid.  They are effectively trapped in a situation that fosters discontent and are without the necessary government institutions that can deal with conflict.  Without sufficient economic and social development there can be no peace and security.  Secretary General Kofi Annan verbalized this situation in his statement: “unless we tackle the underlying distortions and imbalances in the global economy, unless we start the kind of global governance that is needed, we must expect more (political and military) conflicts and even more intractable ones.”         One theoretical approach to international politics believes that states are the primary actors and that peace and security is their primary goal, which can be achieved by force if necessary. Yet, this is taking a very narrow view of the current state of affairs.  In today’s international system, how many countries enjoy peace and security without a degree of economic and social development?  A strong case can not be made for peace and security leading to world prosperity without economic and social development.  The use of military measures should not be the primary component to ensure peace and security, economic and social development should be. A lack of economic and social development will almost always threaten a nation’s peace and security.  Benjamin Barber, in his examination of the effects of aid to refugees, states that “many refugee analysts believe that aid has been substituted for political initiatives that would resolve the root causes of emergency migrations, be it war, ethnic conflict, famine, environmental damage or economic balance.” Therefore, threats to peace and security may be mitigated through political initiatives, such as nation-building or economic and social development.  A primary goal of economic and social development is to enable a country to reach sustainable development, which is defined as “ progress that meets the needs of the present while not compromising future generations.” This development should not be concentrated on economics alone, an infusion of capital is not enough to ensure that a state will become a viable sovereign nation.  Social and political changes must occur as well.  Some of these possible changes include a responsive government and community and educational development.  Citizens must be educated enough to have the technical skills required to handle industrialization and to participate actively and effectively in their government.  Economic changes include an increased agricultural output, the fostering of industrialization, and the formation of a broad economic and infrastructure base.   It is difficult to unequivocally say what is necessary to achieve world prosperity because there are numerous factors, at both the international and domestic level, involved. Yet, an obvious starting point is with economic and social development.  Will a nation ever be able to experience peace and security as long as there is poverty, a lack of adequate healthcare, sub-standard living conditions and an unresponsive and unprepared government?  It is very unlikely.  Economic and social development and peace and security are both necessary for world prosperity however, the first step towards this goal must be economic and social development.