Tension and conflict are present in many countries around the world. The populations living in these countries may face many difficulties and sometimes their rights, as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are not respected.
Tensions arise when political, economic, or social interests diverge between 2 states or within the same state. The term “tension” is used when there are no armed confrontations. Once fighting breaks out, the term “conflict” is used. In international language a conflict involves armed clashes.
The causes of tensions and conflicts are always complex. It is important to avoid making hasty judgments when examining a conflict. Research on the history of the country, its population and key players is necessary. It is also important not to rely on what a single source has to say about the situation. Opinions and views are often biased.
Let’s use a fictional example. Country X helps country Y to get rid of an invader. Does country X simply want to help? What are the interests of country X in this situation? Does it want to create an alliance with country Y? Does it want country Y to be indebted to it? Does country X want to provoke another country that is country Y’s enemy? These are examples of questions that need to be asked.
The governments of states do not always disclose all the information. Sometimes, it is necessary to look at other sources of information and examine the history of the situation, and even wait until the conflict ends or several years after it has ended to fully understand its complexity.
Talking about tension and conflict means learning to analyze the grey zones of an event. This means that things are never black and white, or strictly good guys versus bad guys.
The following are different sources of tension and conflict that are frequently observed:
- the desire to control a country’s natural resources such as oil, water or minerals
- the infringement of people’s rights and freedoms
- identity demands related to language, ethnicity or religion and the desire for greater political autonomy
It is important to note that this is not a complete list. There are other sources of tension and conflict that exist, including a country taking over another country’s territory, imposing authority, seizing power, etc.
When analyzing the causes of tensions and conflicts, it is important to keep in mind that many states are trying to build or maintain international influence. To achieve this, these states may lack transparency by conducting covert interventions and missions, supporting a foreign or terrorist group by providing it with money or weapons or developing an intelligence agency, like the CIA. This kind of intervention, which is not always made public, is yet another reason to maintain a critical eye on international tensions and conflicts.