The book examines the intersections of political violence, deprivation and conflict, and explores the prospects of its management by studying one of the world's most complex political turmoils - Kashmir. It closely investigates the vertical aspect of the conflict, in which the Indian state and a section of Kashmiris are engaged in a turbulent relationship, and explores ways to stimulate conflict management. By employing the protracted social conflict theory, the author argues that a conflict between a state and a social group ensues when the political elite fail to address the non-material needs of the marginalized. By documenting narratives of the Kashmiri traders and the state officials, and the impact of the opening of the two intra-Kashmir trade routes during the 1990s, this book emphasizes the need to focus on peace initiatives taken by the government, and the significance of accommodation and engagement to address a state-people conflict.
