Conflict ravages countries in countless ways. It tears families, communities, infrastructure, and regions apart, and it’s the number one cause of hunger in the world. Most conflicts today take place in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Often, several countries are involved, directly or indirectly.
Civilians are always at risk of becoming victims during conflicts. Image: Sid10 / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Task:
Choose a current or recent international conflict where an English-speaking country is/was involved, directly or indirectly. There are many different types of conflicts you can choose from. For example
territorial disputes
intrastate/civil wars
interstate wars
sectarian conflicts
transnational terrorism
If you are unsure what to choose, your English teacher will help you find a relevant conflict.
Where does the conflict take place and how long has it been going on?
Who are involved in the conflict? (States, terrorist groups, guerrilla groups ...) Is this an interstate or intrastate conflict? Do any of the world's major powers (China, Russia, the United States) have interests in the area?
Is the conflict hot (armed conflict) or cold? Is there terrorism involved?
What is the conflict about? (Natural resources, borders, religion, minorities, ideology, politics). Remember that there is usually more than one cause.
To what degree are civilians affected by this conflict? How are they affected?
Is there a possible solution to the conflict? Has the UN or other mediators been involved to solve the conflictand hold the peace?
