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

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.