Society and institutions 11

a last resort

something you do when everything else has failed

diplomacy

activities concerning the relationships between governments

weaponry

weapons in general or of different types

regime change

changing the government or leader of a country, especially by force

tyrannical

using power in a cruel way over people in a country or group

overthrow

remove somebody from power using force

unrest

disagreement or fighting between groups in a public or political context

clashes

short fights or serious arguments between opposing groups

rival

competing against one another

escalate

become greater, more serious, or more intense

all-out

complete and total, using all available resources

brutal suppression

violent and cruel ending of rights, freedom, or opposition

ethnic cleansing

organised attempt to completely remove a specific racial or political group from an area using violence

massacre

the killing of large numbers of people

conflict resolution

finding a way to end conflict and negative feelings between groups

mistrust

lack or absence of trust

hatred

feeling of intense dislike or ill will

wage war on

fight a war against or take strong action against

hostilities

acts of war or aggressive fighting

besiege

attack a place by surrounding it for a period of time

besieged

surrounded and attacked by enemy forces

ambush

attack unexpectedly from hidden positions

truce

an agreement during a war to stop fighting for a time

international observers

outside, neutral people or bodies that monitor a situation

campaign

a planned series of military operations or actions to achieve a goal

rebellion

organized armed resistance or fighting against a government or authority

fleet

a group of vehicles, ships, or aircraft operating together under one control