Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies

War, Conflict, and Socioeconomic Changes: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Wars and conflicts have been interwoven throughout human history, playing a pivotal role in shaping both past and contemporary societies (Besley & Persson, 2008; Chen et al., 2023). Conflicts among ethnic groups, religions, nations – as well as civil wars – have influenced the logic of global political, social and economic dynamics (Downing, 1992; Centeno, 2002; Lu et al., 2025). The post-COVID-pandemic era has been witnessing the intensified geopolitical fragmentation and increased regional military tensions (e.g., Ukraine, Gaza, Africa). It is of great significance to study the growing relevance of war-legacies in shaping economic resilience, technological shift, financial access, and other socioeconomic consequences and their interactions with policies.

This special issue invites contributions regarding the impacts of wars and conflicts on economic trajectories from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Submissions may include historical analyses that adopts a long-term perspective, as well as contemporary studies exploring the socioeconomic consequences of recent international and civil conflicts. Potential mechanisms of influence could include state formation, institutional development, religion, culture, civil society, military structures, technological change, industrialization, demography, bureaucracy, and other related factors.

We welcome articles that advance both empirical and theoretical depth, with equal emphasis on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. Theoretical and review papers are also encouraged.

References:

Besley, T. and Persson, T. 2008. Wars and State Capacity. Journal of the European Economic Association, 6(2-3): 522-530.

Centeno, M. A. 2002. Blood and Debt: War and the Nation-State in Latin America. Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press.

Chen, Z., Turchin, P. and Wang, W., 2023. War and the origins of Chinese civilization. Available at SSRN 4736571.

Downing, B. 1992. The Military Revolution and Political Change: Origins of Democracy and Autocracy in Early Modern Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Lu, J., Hou, W. and Main, B.G., 2025. The cultural legacy of historical ethnic violence: The impact on access to finance and innovation. Journal of Financial Intermediation, 61, p.101119.