Question

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: Beyond undermining the monopoly of the State on the use of force, armed conflict also creates an environment that can enable organized crime to prosper.
Paragraph:
(1) Linkages between illicit arms, organized crime, and armed conflict can reinforce one another while also escalating and prolonging violence and eroding governance.
(2) __
Financial gains from crime can lengthen or intensify armed conflicts by creating revenue streams for non-State armed groups (NSAGs).
(3) __
In this context, when hostilities cease and parties to a conflict move towards a peaceful resolution, the widespread availability of surplus arms and ammunition can contribute to a situation of 'criminalized peace' that obstructs sustainable peacebuilding efforts.

• A. Option 2
• B. Option 1
• C. Option 4
• D. Option 3

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The paragraph discusses the intricate linkages between illicit arms, organized crime, and armed conflict. It explains how these elements reinforce one another and impact governance and peacebuilding processes. The missing sentence provides a critical point: armed conflict not only challenges the State’s authority over the use of force but also fosters conditions where organized crime can thrive.

Analysis of the paragraph structure: 

1. Sentence (1): Introduces the core theme — the mutual reinforcement between illicit arms, organized crime, and armed conflict. It sets up the idea that these forces are interconnected and have a destabilizing effect on governance and peace.
2. Sentence (2): Discusses how organized crime can financially support and sustain armed conflicts, especially through the revenue it generates for non-State armed groups (NSAGs). This adds depth by showing the practical implications of crime within conflict zones.
3. Best place for the missing sentence: The sentence — "Beyond undermining the monopoly of the State on the use of force, armed conflict also creates an environment that can enable organized crime to prosper." — logically fits between sentences (2) and (3). It acts as a bridge that explains why organized crime thrives during conflicts and leads into the next idea about the long-term effects even after conflict ends.
4. Sentence (3): Describes the post-conflict implications — particularly, how the leftover arms and entrenched criminal networks continue to disrupt sustainable peace, leading to a 'criminalized peace.'

Conclusion: Given the flow of ideas and thematic development, the most coherent and logical position for the sentence is:

Option 3: After sentence (2) and before sentence (3).