Causes of Conflict Flashcards
Power-Hungry Leadership
Authoritarian law and rule by militant groups •can take people into war against their wishes
Retaliation/Escalation
An action or situation is interpreted as an “attack” or “wrong” against an individual, group or state. Action is then taken to right the “wrong” through counterattack creating an escalating cycle of conflict
Class Conflict
Conflict arises between groups that have resources, represent the norms of a culture or hold power and those that have very little of the resources, are outside the norms of the culture or hold little or no power.
Learned Behaviour
Violence and war are part of the structure of a society and become acceptable or even valued options within a culture. Male-centred structures and a military economy “teach” violence and war as reasonable options. This is then reinforced through public institutions, media and parenting
Resources
Competition for limited resources may lead to conflict, or the desire of one group to have the resources of another may include the use of violence as a means to acquire them
Fundamentalism/Extremism
People who believe in extreme forms of religion or nationalism stir up hatred against other groups, which can spill over into violent behaviour
Racism
The lives and property of one race or cultural group are seen as superior to those of another group. Violence is used to reduce others’ power, convert them to a better way of life or get rid of the other group altogether
Socio-cultural Differences
Differences between people, groups or cultures result in mistrust and potential conflict
Human Nature
War is rooted in human nature itself, while the triggered mechanisms for violence are many and varied. Human beings are somehow “wired” to be violent and aggressive.
Example of Power-Hungry Leadership
Assad in Syria or Putin in Russia or Kim Jong un in North Korea • Afghanistan - Warlords + factions within politics
Example of Retaliation/Escalation
PLO and the IDF • Syria - Against govt. + vice versa
Example of Learned Behaviour
Treatment of women in Saudi Arabia •Afghanistan Violent approach + opposition to foreigners + revenge
Example of Conflict Over Resources
Israel with surrounding Arab countries over the control of water supplies in the Middle East • Syria - Land (IS and the Kurds) + oil
Example of Conflict due to Fundamentalism/Extremism
US War on Terror • Afghanistan - Taliban • Syria
Example of conflict created through racism
Apartheid in South Africa • Syria - Shiite, Sunni, Kurds and the Alewives • Afghanistan - Religious and ethnicity
