Regional Conflict Complex

To understand contemporary civil conflicts, there are four theses that attempt to give explanation; ancient ethnic hatred, new barbarism, poor governance or weak state, and economic agenda.

The ancient ethnic hatred thesis touches down on identity issues like ethnic and religion. The new “barbarism” thesis characterizes civil conflicts as motivated by irrational and primeval savagery. The poor governance or weak state thesis explains that civil conflicts can arise from government’s failures and problems such as corruption, nepotism, underdevelopment. The economic agenda thesis sheds light on the conflict brought about by greed and exploitation of resources to perpetuate the conflict.

There are many civil conflicts that spill-over to the surrounding areas and states. This prompts a regional approach to the conflict. There are elements of this regional conflict that are useful in understanding of and formulating resolution to the conflict; economic, military, political, and social networks. Each network plays a role in the perpetuation of the conflict. It also provides a perspective on the conflict which is significant to its resolution.

With these theses on conflicts, I wonder how and what the future conflict will be caused by? Any thesis on conflict is preceded by certain conflict phenomenon. It is interesting to note how these theses are able to somehow catch-up with any conflict phenomena. Researchers, scholars and practitioners are doing a good job in trying to explain and resolve conflicts that we have on this world. However, we are always a step late to prevent bloodshed and violence.