Armed conflict is a state of hostility and violence involving the use of force between two or more organized entities, whether they are sovereign states (international armed conflicts) or non-state actors (internal armed conflicts). Understanding armed conflict is essential to comprehending current global geopolitics. The phenomenon also carries an immense humanitarian dimension, as armed conflict can quickly destabilize regions and induce spillover effects into adjacent countries and territories.
Political and ideological differences, encompassing power struggles and conflicting governance visions, contribute to the emergence of armed conflicts. Identity, encompassing ethnic, religious or cultural affiliations, is another significant factor, notably in societies with a strong sense of division between a ‘us’ and a ‘them’. The abundance of natural resources, ranging from oil to diamonds, can exacerbate armed conflict by providing incentives for different groups to compete for control and access to the revenues they generate.
A wide range of theoretical approaches are available for identifying the root causes of armed conflict. According to Kenneth Waltz, one should search for the roots of armed conflict in parallel at three analytical levels: the level of the individual, the level of the state and the level of the international system. In fact, the vast majority of armed conflicts are triggered by factors that transcend national boundaries and require the cooperation of multiple actors to be addressed. The resulting human suffering, including the death or displacement of civilians, is appalling and must be addressed with urgent priority.
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