Types of Conflict in Literature

• Overview of conflicts found in literature.

• Definitions and criteria for understanding conflicts vary among scholars.

• Disagreement among scholars about the categorization of conflicts, particularly pertaining to the concept of "new wars".

  • Example: 1990s conflicts challenged by scholars who assert they are merely civil wars.

Definitions and Characteristics of Conflict

• Fundamental agreement: Conflict involves two or more parties.

• Definition distinction: Genocide is seen as a different phenomenon from conflict.

  • Genocide involves one-sided violence targeted at a victim group by a perpetrator, contrasting with the multi-party nature of conflict.

• Connection to Malikalta’s work on the Former Yugoslavia:

  • Argues for a new type of war that deviates from traditional state-to-state conflict.

  • Within civil wars, political violence may include genocide.

Analysis of UN Operations

• UN operations were unsuccessful due to misinterpretation of violent processes in contexts like the Former Yugoslavia and Gaza.

• The current conflict between Hamas and Israel is presented as a conflict containing elements of genocide.

• Acknowledgment that different categories of violence coexist within conflicts.

Political Violence

• Political violence as a central theme in understanding armed conflict.

• Quote from Clausewitz: "War is an extension of politics."

• Common misconceptions about war from media portrayals (chaotic, akin to natural disasters).

  • Reality: War is a logical and pragmatic political activity with specific strategies and campaigns.

• Importance of recognizing armed conflict as a controllable event, not to be viewed as an uncontrollable natural force.

Understanding Conflict Through Legal Definitions

• International law differentiates between two types of armed conflict:

  • International Armed Conflict: Traditional conflict between states.

  • Non-International Armed Conflict: Involvement of a state against groups or between groups within a state (civil war).

• Definition of armed conflict in legal terms:

  • Occurs when two parties resort to force using weapons.

• Definitions extend to violent conflicts without combatant-only provisions:

  • Violent conflict is described as armed conflict between two or more parties.

Symmetrical vs Asymmetrical Conflict

• Symmetrical Conflict: Equal strength between warring parties.

• Asymmetrical Conflict: Disparity in power dynamics, e.g., a powerful state against weaker rebel forces.

  • Example: The US against Costa Rica or the Palestinian conflict with Israel characterized as asymmetrical.

• Factors influencing the longevity of asymmetrical conflicts include historical repression and structural violence grievances.

Conflict Transformation and Resolution

• Theories suggest resolution requires addressing structural violence and changing attitudes of warring parties.

• Queries about achieving peace in post-colonial settings despite ongoing political instability.

• Historical perspectives suggest that importing liberal democracy may stabilize such states, but there are criticisms regarding its effectiveness and suitability for specific contexts.

The Complexity of Post-Colonial Conflict

• Issues in postcolonial states stem from deep-rooted problems, such as resource control.

• Governance often falls into the hands of corrupt leaders who do not serve the interests of the populace, maintaining societal violence.

• Recognition that long-term solutions are necessary for resolving conflicts that have roots in colonial history.

Statistical Understanding of Conflict

• A conflict is statistically defined as a non-conflict if it results in fewer than 1,000 deaths per year.

  • Concern exists over the adequacy of death-toll thresholds for acknowledging ongoing violence.

• Civilian deaths are an inevitable consequence of warfare, despite efforts to minimize them.

• Conflicts with fewer casualties may not be recognized as armed conflicts, even if violence persists.

Low Intensity vs High Intensity Conflict

• Classification of conflict intensity helps in understanding the situation of violence in different regions, e.g., Israel/Palestine.

• Protracted conflicts characterized by long-lasting violence and multiple actors involved; often compelled by humanitarian interventions.

• Seasonal variations affect the intensity of violence, as seen in conflicts like those in Sudan.

Nature of Protracted Conflicts

• Protracted conflicts often relate to deeply rooted issues that require long-term solutions.

• Examples of conflict rooted in colonial processes outline how these conflicts can persist over decades.

• Notable example: Ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the 1950s.

Impacts of Resource Control on Conflict

• Conflicts often tied to resources (natural or otherwise) impacting the fight.

• Modern warfare often involves economic motives rather than ideological goals.

  • Example: Warlords in Former Yugoslavia profiting from looting humanitarian aid.

• Transnational crimes, including human trafficking, increasingly tied to conflicts generating significant financial gains.

Varied Terminology for Types of Conflict

• Terms such as intrastate war, civil war, and new wars reflect differing classifications of armed conflict within states.

• Sectarian violence attributed to conflicts driven by religious or ideological divisions, though underlying political motives exist.

• Introduction of concepts such as hybrid wars and proxy wars, particularly during the Cold War era, reflects evolving understandings of global political dynamics.

• The Syrian conflict exemplifies a blend of these conflict types, often drawing international involvement as a proxy for foreign interests.