Don't forget how crucial the economy is to war – and peace – in Syria | Phil Vernon

Economic exclusion helped trigger the conflict in Syria. Rebuilding will mean integrating disparate groups and enabling them to find jobs

Economy and peace are intimately linked. But the economy can also play a role in conflict, and competition over resources is at the heart of most of the conflicts we see today.

Syria is no exception. The erosion of livelihoods by prolonged drought, and a history of excluding certain groups, helped trigger the conflict, which enters its sixth year this week.

Related: Voices from Syria: 'This camp is a paradise compared to life back home'