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Orphans and Political Instability
Author(s) -
Breuning Marijke,
Ishiyama John
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2011.00800.x
Subject(s) - political instability , politics , orphan drug , population , demographic economics , development economics , demography , incidence (geometry) , political science , economics , sociology , biology , law , bioinformatics , physics , optics
Objective This study investigates the security implications of growing orphan populations, particularly in Sub‐ S aharan A frica. Little has been written about the security implications of this especially vulnerable group of children. Are growing orphan populations associated with increases in political instability as has been suggested? Method Using data from several sources, we employ regression analysis to test whether Sub‐ S aharan A frican countries with larger proportions of orphans and those with increasing orphan populations experience higher rates of political instability. Results We find that the increase in the orphan population is related to an increasing incidence of civil conflict, but do not find a similar relationship for the proportion of orphans. In addition, we find that the causes of orphanhood matter. Conclusions We conclude that increases in orphan populations (rather than simple proportions) are destabilizing. We suggest possible avenues for mediating the security risks posed by growing orphan populations.