The Heidelberg Institute released its annual Conflict Barometer this week. Not much has changed in recent years. Some 345 conflicts were cited globally in 2008, 39 using "massive force" and 95 marked by "sporadic use of violence" in the Institute's words.
We all know of longstanding conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Sudan as well as violent eruptions this year in Georgia, Kenya and Pakistan. Let's remember, too, that Armenia remains in conflict with Azerbaijan, the Sri Lankan civil war lingers in seeming perpetuity, the Turks continue to fight the PKK separatists and the Congolese civil conflict is still flourishing.
These data are always harrowing. However, Fareed Zakaria reminds us in the Post-American World (2008) that the number of global conflicts these days is down considerably from previous decades and even centuries. It is sometimes hard to believe, since the media now make every conflict so readily available to us, but we are less prone to war than ever before in our history. Reason for hope?
We all know of longstanding conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Sudan as well as violent eruptions this year in Georgia, Kenya and Pakistan. Let's remember, too, that Armenia remains in conflict with Azerbaijan, the Sri Lankan civil war lingers in seeming perpetuity, the Turks continue to fight the PKK separatists and the Congolese civil conflict is still flourishing.
These data are always harrowing. However, Fareed Zakaria reminds us in the Post-American World (2008) that the number of global conflicts these days is down considerably from previous decades and even centuries. It is sometimes hard to believe, since the media now make every conflict so readily available to us, but we are less prone to war than ever before in our history. Reason for hope?
