Causes of Conflict

Causes of conflict

• Identity: Set of characteristics that make you who you are for instance they might include where you’re from, your language, religion and culture.

• Groups of people have different identities - can lead to conflict.
• Level of power and independence each group has can lead to conflict due to political power and independence.
• People can be very protective of their identity and seek to maintain it at all costs.
• Nationalism: Strong identity related to the country you’re from, loyalty and devotion to a country. The culture and interests of only that nation is promotes.
• Regionalism: Regional identity, loyalty and consciousness to a nation or a distinct region with a population that shares similarities. Can lead to the development to the development of a political or social system based on one or more such areas.
• Localism: Affection for a particular place or a local identity.

• Ethnicity: Part of identity – can include things you’re born with (nation and race) as well as things that are passed down generations e.g. language, culture and religion.

- British people for instance have different ethnicities such as black Caribbean.

- Ethnic conflict is between ethnic groups - can lead from one group wanting more political power or one thinking they’re superior then the other.

• Culture: Things that relate to how you live your life – food, clothing’s, traditions etc.

• Culture can be linked to ethnicity, religion and gender as well as age or where you live.
• Cultural differences lead to conflicts if different cultures don’t fully understand or respect each other’s differences.

• Territory: The sense of belonging to a geographic area or a governmental authority.

• Conflict can occur where there’s dispute about who does or should have authority over an area, or when competing over resources.

• Ideology: This is a set of ideas about how society should be e.g. an ideology includes ideas about the form of government, economic, education, social welfare and health care system.

Patterns of conflict

• International: Conflict that involves the participation of more than one country. Iran Vs Iraq war 1980-88.
• National level: Conflict within one country e.g. Syria war.
• Regional level: Conflicts within a region of one or more countries across borders or within an area. – Water resource conflict
• Local level: Where the conflict is restricted to a small part of one region of a country.

Expression of conflict

• Non-violent: Doesn’t involve forced or armed struggle.

- Statements of discontent are made by word, sign, marching or silent protest.

- Can be a political activity which includes supporting or opposing or even creating a political party.

- Boycotts – Refusing to do something