UNIT 4 AOS 2 AC CAUSES AND RESPONSES Flashcards
Cause of armed conflict
War as an instrument of state policy: (Russia-Ukraine 2022)
- War as an instrument of state policy can be a major cause of armed conflict when a global actor reverts military force to achieve strategic goals. For example, the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, with prominent areas being Crimea and Donetsk, under Putin’s governing, labelling the act as a “special military operation” to prevent Ukraine’s alignment with NATO and assert control over the region. This decision led to a major conflict with over 470,000 casualties, millions of refugees, and a severe humanitarian crisis, displaying the consequences of using war to pursue policy objectives
Sectarian and regional rivalries: (Yemen civil war 2014)
Sectarianism is the division and conflict between different religious or ethnic groups within a society, often leading to hostility, discrimination, and violence. It typically arises when one group views itself as superior or fundamentally different from another, creating deep social and political divisions
- A key example is the Yemen Civil War, which began in 2014. The war has been significantly influenced by sectarian divides, with the Shia Zaidi Houthis in the north fighting against the Sunni-majority Yemeni government and its allies. This conflict is further fuelled by regional powers like Iran (a Shia-majority state) supporting the Houthis and Saudi Arabia (a Sunni-majority state) backing the Yemeni government. These sectarian identities have turned the civil war into a proxy conflict, making peace efforts more difficult and prolonging the violence. This case demonstrates how sectarianism can transform political and social disputes into prolonged and destructive armed conflict
Responses by global actors and non state actors and their effectiveness
Diplomatic and humanitarian intervention:
UN Peacekeeping mission: (Peace talks, UNSC resolution 2216 and 245, Stockholm Agreement 2018)
The UN’s response to the global crisis of armed conflict in Yemen involved facilitating the Stockholm Agreement in December 2018. This agreement aimed to establish a ceasefire in Hodeidah, a key port for humanitarian aid. The UN played a critical role in negotiating a prisoner swap to build trust between the warring parties, although delays occurred due to disagreements on prisoner numbers and logistics. The ceasefire enabled safe access for aid ships, crucial for the 80% of Yemen’s 30 million people dependent on humanitarian support. Despite reducing violence in Hodeidah, the agreement was frequently breached, and intermittent fighting persisted. The UN’s efforts were effective in facilitating aid but faced challenges in ensuring long-term peace and compliance.
UN Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP 2015-)
- Another significant UN response during the Yemen Civil War was the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Yemen, which was initiated in 2015 and has been updated annually. The HRP aimed to address the urgent needs of the Yemeni population, providing food, medical care, and other essential services. In 2021, the HRP sought $3.85 billion to assist 16 million people, with major efforts including the distribution of food aid to 13.5 million people and medical care to 5 million individuals. Despite these efforts, the ongoing conflict and access issues have complicated aid delivery, leaving millions still in critical need of assistance
Challenges to effective resolution
Humanitarian crisis and economic collapse: (Yemen civil war 2014)
Humanitarian crisis:
- The humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in Yemen illustrate a significant challenge to resolving the global crisis of armed conflict. Since the war began in 2014, it has devastated Yemen’s infrastructure, economy, and public services, creating severe conditions for civilians. The UN describes it as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” with over 21 million people (about two-thirds of the population) needing assistance as of 2023. Approximately 17 million face food insecurity, with 2.2 million children suffering from acute malnutrition. The conflict has also destroyed half of the health facilities, impeding medical care for diseases and injuries. This dire situation has complicated peace efforts, as factions manipulate the crisis for political leverage. Peace talks often stall over control of aid routes and ports, crucial for delivering humanitarian assistance, exemplified by the incomplete implementation of the 2018 Stockholm Agreement aimed at addressing these needs.
Economic collapse:
- The economic collapse in Yemen presents a major obstacle to resolving the global crisis of armed conflict. Since the conflict began in 2014, Yemen’s economy has contracted by over 50%, resulting in widespread unemployment, reduced access to goods and services, and severe poverty—over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. This economic devastation diverts attention from long-term peace efforts to immediate survival needs. Effective peace agreements must address both political disputes and economic recovery, but substantial international investment required for rebuilding is hindered by persistent instability. Economic hardships also fuel grievances and are exploited by factions like the Houthis and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to bolster their control and push political agendas. This exploitation complicates efforts to form a unified government and achieve a comprehensive peace agreement.
