The Interrelationship between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Conflict Behavior: A Survey

We survey the literature in economics and related fields on the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict behavior. We cover the effects of the pandemic on micro-level conflict (among individuals), macro-level conflict (interstate, intrastate, and extra-state), and the effect of existing conflict on the spread of the pandemic. We find an increase in intimate partner violence, a spillover between work-family conflict and domestic violence, and a spike in the anti-East-Asian crimes. While there was an initial drop in the macro-level conflict count, it eventually returned to the pre-pandemic level. Deteriorating economy and food insecurity associated with the pandemic were major drivers of conflict in the developing countries, but appropriate state stimulus reduced such conflicts. The existing history of conflict has a heterogeneous effect in different societies in terms of the spread of the pandemic. We conclude by pointing out the future research avenues.