What is Civil War / Internal Conflict?
Historical Background
Key Points
9 points- 1.
Characterized by sustained armed violence between state and non-state actors, or between non-state actors, often reaching a certain threshold of intensity and casualties.
- 2.
Often involves high levels of civilian casualties, massive displacement of populations (internal and refugees), and severe humanitarian crises.
- 3.
Causes are multi-faceted: ethnic/religious tensions, resource scarcity, political exclusion, economic inequality, weak state institutions, external interference, and ideological differences.
- 4.
Can lead to state fragility or state failure, where the government loses effective control over its territory or population.
- 5.
Frequently results in widespread human rights violations, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
- 6.
Has significant regional and international implications, including refugee flows, cross-border instability, spread of extremism, and international intervention.
- 7.
Resolution often involves complex processes like peace negotiations, power-sharing agreements, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs, and post-conflict reconstruction.
- 8.
The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine can be invoked by the international community in cases of mass atrocities during civil conflicts.
- 9.
The presence of non-state armed groups, including terrorist organizations, is a common feature of modern internal conflicts.
Visual Insights
Understanding Civil War / Internal Conflict
This mind map illustrates the multifaceted nature of civil wars, covering their causes, characteristics, consequences, and the critical international dimensions, which are vital for UPSC understanding of global conflicts.
Civil War / Internal Conflict
- ●Characteristics
- ●Causes
- ●Consequences
- ●International Dimensions
- ●Examples
Recent Developments
4 developmentsOngoing civil wars in Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Myanmar continue to cause immense human suffering and regional instability.
Rise of non-state armed groups and transnational terrorism as significant drivers and exacerbators of internal conflicts.
Increased focus on conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and addressing the root causes of conflict by international organizations and NGOs.
Challenges in providing humanitarian aid and ensuring protection for civilians in conflict zones due to access restrictions and targeting of aid workers.