Sustainable Development as a Tool for Conflict Prevention: Analysing the Intersections of Development Policy and Peacebuilding

In a global context marked by deepening inequality, fragility, and environmental stress, this study re-examines conflict prevention through the lens of sustainable development. The research aims to explore the nexus between development policy and peacebuilding, with the core objective of analysing how sustainable development, when approached holistically, can serve as a pre-emptive mechanism for mitigating conflict. Guided by Johan Galtung’s theory of positive peace, the study poses two primary research questions: How can sustainable development prevent violent conflict in fragile and post-conflict societies? What institutional and governance frameworks are necessary to support peace-enabling development? Using a qualitative, comparative case study methodology, the research draws on evidence from Rwanda, Colombia, Somalia, and Bosnia. The findings indicate that sustainable development is most effective in preventing conflict when it is inclusive, locally grounded, and implemented within robust governance structures. Rwanda’s emphasis on reconciliation, participatory development, and gender inclusion, alongside Colombia’s rural peace-development strategies, provide compelling examples of development-led peacebuilding. Conversely, the cases of Somalia and Bosnia reveal the limitations of externally imposed, top-down approaches lacking local legitimacy. The study recommends the deliberate integration of Sustainable Development Goal 16, focusing on peace, justice, and strong institutions into national development frameworks. It also advocates for participatory planning, capacity-building for local institutions, and context-specific interventions that prioritise equity and inclusion. This paper contributes to scholarly and policy discourses on the development–peace nexus and provides actionable insights for policymakers, development agencies, and peacebuilding practitioners working in fragile and conflict-affected settings.