Social Capital and its Transformative Influence in Relation to Violent Conflicts: An Interpretative Study on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) have been witnessing recurring clashes between the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and the Bengali Settlers (BSs) over a long period of time. However, being a relatively new term, social capital provides a critical lens through which this paper might evaluate the nature of violent conflicts in the CHTs. A thorough consideration of the notion of social capital and its application to a conflict analysis allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how violent conflict occurs and impacts social cohesion in the region. The consequence is twofold: first, a better knowledge of how violent conflicts allows for the creation of conflict prevention techniques that not only reduce the chances of violent conflicts but also make use of existing networks to boost social capital. Second, a thorough grasp of social capital aids in the planning and implementation of post-conflict reconstruction. This study aims to examine the literature on social capital and conflicts, as well as to present a critical analysis of how social capital influences violent conflicts in CHTs.