What is armed conflict?
Armed conflict is a state of open, often prolonged, fighting. Other terms that might be used to describe types of armed conflict are: war, civil war, ethnic strife, genocide, guerrilla warfare, gang warfare, and terrorism.
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You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.
— Jeannette Rankin, first woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress (1880—1973)
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What are the causes of armed conflict?
The causes of armed conflict are very complex and diverse. The causes often reflect the social, cultural, economic, environmental and political atmosphere. The causes include, but are not limited to:
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| Photo: Paola Gianturco |
- Poor economic conditions or having low levels of economic development. This is especially relevant to areas that are dependent on agriculture or other business that is vulnerable to economic shifts in the world market;
- Repressive political systems, especially during a leadership transition in the government;
- Power struggles between different cultural or religious groups;
- Disparities (especially in wealth and access to resources) between ethnicities, often exaggerated by leaders in order to incite violence; and
- Environmental degradation or threat to natural resources.
Poor countries are 4 times more likely to have conflict than rich ones. (Source: Oxfam) Therefore, addressing the root causes of poverty is an important step in curbing the eruption of violence and armed conflict. In this way, peace promotion and fighting poverty are closely linked.
Another important issue in armed conflict is the easy access to weapons. The access to weapons - especially small arms - make initiating and continuing an armed conflict relatively easy, but not without detrimental effects on the civilian populations in the conflict zones.
Where Can I Learn More?
For more information, visit
www.womenwagingpeace.net
What can we do?
If you’re a high school student interested in starting a
Global Action Club at your school addressing armed conflict
contact us.
