The Locust Effect Summary

Living in poverty is not just about the lack of resources; it’s about living in fear of violence that crushes hope and devours efforts for a better life.

1. Violence surpasses natural disasters in destructiveness.

Violence does more harm to societies than devastating natural catastrophes. While hurricanes and floods take immediate tolls on lives and infrastructure, criminal violence continuously erodes progress over time, halting economic improvement and destabilizing communities. In Guatemala, for instance, the annual financial toll from violence is more than double that of the infamous Hurricane Stan in 2005.

Criminal activity leads to diminished productivity, especially when it results in injury or death. Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) is a measure reflecting years lost due to disability or death caused by violence. Nine million DALYs are lost annually just from violence against women in developing countries.

This loss is magnified in regions where labor forces heavily rely on vulnerable groups. In Africa, women, who conduct 80% of agricultural labor, are often victims of violence, subsequently impacting food production and deepening economies' fragilities.

Examples

• Violence costs Guatemala over 7% of its GDP annually.
• DALYs illustrate the economic burden caused by gender-based violence.
• Food production declines in African regions due to assaults on women responsible for farming.

2. Law enforcement neglect traps the poor in fear.

For many in developing countries, the police are absent or actively harmful. Policing systems often fail to protect vulnerable populations, leaving them at the mercy of criminals. The tragic story of Maria, a Peruvian teenager, illustrates this. After being raped multiple times, Maria found no justice; authorities ignored her case and accused her of provoking her attacker.

The failure extends beyond neglect; judicial systems frequently prosecute the innocent without fair representation. Dan, a Kenyan teenager, faced life imprisonment after a misunderstanding over water access, with no lawyer and a language barrier in court. These failures show the systemic issues affecting the poor.

The root cause is not poverty itself but lack of legal protection. Just as malaria thrives in untreated areas, unchecked violence disproportionately affects those without access to justice systems.

Examples

• Maria’s rape was dismissed by Peruvian police with shocking disregard.
• Dan’s arrest in Kenya led to unjust incarceration without legal rights.
• Like malaria spreading without treatment, violence persists amid legal indifference.

3. Police systems are ill-equipped and undertrained.

In many developing countries, police forces are unprepared for their roles. Police in India, for example, receive minimal structured training. Most officers are constables with outdated military drills but no real understanding of criminal investigations or public protection.

Even worse, police budgets are pitifully small. Bangladesh spends a mere $1.50 per citizen on law enforcement annually, making it impossible to hire enough officers or provide proper resources. This results in unmanageable caseloads, slow responses to crimes, and demoralized staff unable to perform their duties effectively.

Similarly, court systems are overwhelmed. In Malawi, there is only one prosecutor per 1.5 million people. Such shortages lead to cases dragging on for years, forcing accused individuals to wait in jail, sometimes innocent, as in the Philippines, where trials can stall for a decade.

Examples

• Indian police constabulary lacks proper legal and criminal training.
• Bangladesh spends just $1.50 per capita yearly on law enforcement.
• Malawian courts operate with shockingly low prosecution capacities.

4. Colonial roots shape unjust legal systems.

Colonial powers often designed enforcement systems to subdue, not serve, the public. Rather than protecting communities, these systems ensured colonial control by appeasing the elite and suppressing resistance. This historical precedent explains why many legal systems still prioritize wealthier citizens over addressing general public needs.

India’s Police Act, left virtually unchanged since its colonial drafting 140 years ago, exemplifies this structural flaw. Created to serve the British elite, these laws are ill-suited to modern democracies seeking equity. The same colonial legacy can be seen in parts of Africa and Asia, prolonging public disenfranchisement.

Without reforms, police systems remain predisposed toward militaristic approaches rather than crime prevention or community support.

Examples

• India’s unchanged 140-year-old Police Act still governs law enforcement.
• The Irish Constabulary model, used in British colonies, enforced control rather than justice.
• South Asian legal systems disproportionately favor elites due to unreformed colonial codes.

5. Private systems fill justice gaps—but not for the poor.

When public justice is unreliable, wealthier citizens and companies create their own solutions. Private security firms are booming in many developing countries, with millions employed to protect homes and businesses. In India, these firms outnumber the official police force fourfold.

Private courts, too, have emerged for resolving disputes efficiently. Known as alternative dispute resolution systems, they allow the wealthy to bypass dysfunctional courts. While this benefits elites, it widens the divide between rich and poor, as the latter lack resources to access these private systems.

Such inequality ensures the poor remain unprotected, falling further behind as the wealthy avoid delays that plague national justice systems.

Examples

• In Kenya, 80% of businesses rely on private security rather than police.
• Indian private security firms employ over 5.5 million agents—four times the police force size.
• Alternative dispute systems are increasingly popular but inaccessible for the impoverished.

6. International aid neglects justice systems.

Development aid rarely targets criminal justice systems, focusing instead on education, healthcare, or infrastructure. Organizations like the World Bank avoid addressing local law enforcement due to fears of political interference. Less than 1% of financial aid addresses justice issues.

This neglect is like planting crops while ignoring a locust infestation—violence destroys progress. Without tackling corruption and systemic failures in law enforcement, aid money fails to reach those in need. It’s wasted as violence flourishes unchecked.

However, there’s hope for change, as institutions like the World Bank are now reevaluating economic measures, urging investments that go beyond narrow financial gains to include societal improvements.

Examples

• Less than 1% of aid funds support criminal justice improvements.
• Development agencies hesitate to engage in local law enforcement matters.
• World Bank experts advocate broader economic and legal support policies.

7. Tangible successes show justice reform is possible.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can provide models for improving justice systems. Project Lantern in the Philippines demonstrates how collaboration can empower local authorities. This initiative targeted child sex trafficking in Cebu, working to enhance police capabilities and prioritize trafficking cases in courts.

Over four years, Project Lantern reduced child sex trafficking by 79%. Its success resulted from training police, pushing government authorities to act, and creating safe spaces for victims to cooperate with investigators without fear.

The Philippine government was so impressed by Project Lantern’s results that it took over the initiative, ensuring continued progress toward protection.

Examples

• Project Lantern created a police task force specializing in human trafficking.
• A 79% reduction in Cebu’s child sex trade followed Project Lantern’s efforts.
• The Philippine government adopted and funded the program post-launch.

8. Crime impacts health and mental well-being.

Beyond physical and economic harm, violence damages victims’ psychological health. In Ethiopia, higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide are prevalent among violence survivors, according to a 2009 Human Rights report.

This mental toll affects individuals' abilities to work, contribute to society, or pursue education. In the absence of support systems, entire communities lose the social fabric needed to thrive. When women and children consistently face such trauma, their potential is stifled, perpetuating cycles of poverty.

Funding programs to support victims post-violence can mitigate long-term harm.

Examples

• Ethiopian victims face heightened depression rates after violence.
• Mental health challenges prevent many survivors from rejoining the workforce.
• Cycles of trauma in families perpetuate poverty across generations.

9. Investing in justice strengthens economies.

Building fair, effective criminal justice systems lifts countries economically. Protecting vulnerable populations fosters productivity, stability, and societal trust, enabling full participation across demographic groups.

Countries lose billions annually to unaddressed violence, with GDPs shrinking by up to 25%, as seen in Colombia and El Salvador. Addressing law enforcement gaps and bolstering courts have transformed crime-ridden regions into safer, more prosperous places.

Reform isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s an economic one too. Protection of the poor serves humanity and helps entire economies grow.

Examples

• Violence reduces economic growth by 25% in Colombia and El Salvador annually.
• Functioning justice systems increase societal stability and trust in government.
• Economic gains accompany legal protections for marginalized groups.

Takeaways

1. Focus on strengthening local justice systems alongside traditional forms of humanitarian aid.
2. Encourage collaboration between governments and NGOs to implement practical, replicable justice reforms.
3. Advocate for policy changes within international organizations to prioritize justice and law enforcement investments as tools for long-term development.