Suffering and harm in insecurity welfare regimes: conflict and the nexus of formal and informal welfare in Pakistan

Mumtaz, Zahid ORCID: 0000-0002-0037-9845 and Sumarto, Mulyadi (2024) Suffering and harm in insecurity welfare regimes: conflict and the nexus of formal and informal welfare in Pakistan. Critical Social Policy. ISSN 0261-0183

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Abstract

The intricate interplay between formal and informal social protection within an insecurity welfare regime, and the resulting harm and suffering caused by conflicts, remain inadequately explored due to methodological, logistical, and ethical challenges. This study fills this research gap by empirically investigating the roles of formal and informal social protection in mitigating harm and suffering, which lead to insecurity in conflict-affected regions like Pakistan. Drawing on household perspectives obtained through semi-structured interviews, in the conflict-ridden city of Bajor - a conservative society marked by armed and tribal conflicts and a breakdown of welfare institutions - our findings underscore that both armed and tribal conflicts significantly exacerbate harm and suffering, necessitating social protection measures. However, prevailing formal and informal efforts, while limited, fail to adequately address these issues, particularly affecting gender dynamics and social network. People use the network to obtain informal social protection, but this brings exploitation, domination, and clientelism. In a conservative society therefore, social network may worsen harm and suffering caused by conflict leading to severe insecurity.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://journals.sagepub.com/
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Authors
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited:	13 May 2024 13:39
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 04:11
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/123036

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