Jason Miklian's five assertions framework (2018, Business, Peace and Sustainable Development) identifies the mechanisms through which businesses contribute to peacebuilding: (1) economic stabilization of conflict-affected communities, (2) cross-community social cohesion through market participation, (3) political legitimacy generation for peace processes, (4) institutional and rule of law development, and (5) localized security through economic incentives for non-violence.
When businesses operate in conflict-affected areas, they generate reliable employment and income for communities. This economic stabilization reduces the financial incentive to participate in armed conflict and creates constituencies with economic stakes in peace. Employment opportunities, supply chain development, and market expansion all contribute to more stable livelihoods.
Markets create natural meeting spaces where individuals from different ethnic, religious, or political backgrounds interact as producers and consumers. These market interactions build social capital and personal relationships across community divides, weakening the social cohesion that sustains conflict while strengthening networks of trust essential for peace.
Business participation in peace processes signals economic confidence and creates visible benefits from peace agreements. When businesses publicly invest in conflict-affected regions and succeed, they demonstrate that peace is economically viable—strengthening political constituencies for continued peacebuilding and undermining arguments by conflict spoilers.
Formal business operations require functional legal systems, property protections, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Businesses lobbying for institutional development, property law enforcement, and transparent governance inadvertently strengthen the institutional foundations necessary for democratic stability and rule of law.
Economic participation in legitimate business creates competing incentives against violence and illegality. Communities with functioning market economies have less appeal for young recruits to armed groups, and businesses themselves often provide security provisions that extend to local populations, creating zones of relative safety.
Miklian, Jason. "Mapping Business-Peace: Five Assertions for How Businesses Create Peace." Business, Peace and Sustainable Development, 2018.
Miklian, Jason. "Mapping Business-Peace: Five Assertions for How Businesses Create Peace." Business, Peace and Sustainable Development, 2018.
Jason Miklian's Five Assertions framework (2018) identifies five mechanisms through which businesses contribute to peacebuilding: economic stabilization, cross-community social cohesion through market participation, political legitimacy for peace processes, institutional and rule of law development, and localized security through economic incentives for non-violence.
Businesses operating in conflict-affected areas generate reliable employment and income, which reduces financial incentives to participate in armed conflict. Markets also create natural meeting spaces where individuals from different backgrounds interact, building social capital and trust networks that weaken conflict-sustaining divisions.
Formal business operations require functional legal systems, property protections, and dispute resolution mechanisms. When businesses lobby for institutional development and property law enforcement, they inadvertently strengthen the institutional foundations necessary for democratic stability and rule of law.