The Causes of Armed Conflict and Their Catastrophic Consequences
The multifaceted causes of armed conflict and their catastrophic consequences for civilians highlight the need for sustained international efforts. By tackling the root causes of conflict, we can strive towards a world where diplomacy supersedes violence and fosters lasting peace.
Armed conflict is a situation of violent and escalating armed violence resulting from political, religious or ethnic disagreements or competing visions for the future of a country or region (ICRC 2024). The classification of a situation as an armed conflict has legal consequences with respect to international humanitarian law and entails a commitment to adherence to its principles and rules. The failure to properly classify a situation as an armed conflict may lead to grave violations of the laws of war and human rights.
The economic costs of armed conflict go far beyond the immediate combatants, imposing lasting burdens on adjacent regions and global markets (ICRC, 2024). These economic strains exacerbate the direct expenses incurred by conflict, such as destruction of infrastructure or the interruption of trade. They also reduce a country’s ability to invest in its future and hinder its ability to rebound after a period of armed conflict.
The emergence of a conflict is often preceded by a lack of opportunities that would allow people to satisfy their basic needs, namely the needs of safety, social belonging, and esteem. The lack of these needs drives individuals to act independently and seek alternatives. Once these needs are met, people tend to revert back to peaceful co-existence and avoid conflicts altogether.
