1. Where is there conflict in the World today?
IGCSE Global Perspectives

2. Conflict
The clashing of interests (positional differences) over national values of some duration and magnitude between at least two parties (organized groups, states, groups of states, organizations) that are determined to pursue their interests and achieve their goals.
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

3. A total of 345 conflicts were counted in 2008.
Apart from the 39 conflicts fought out with the use of a massive amount of violence, 95 conflicts were conducted with sporadic use of violence and therefore classified as crises.
In contrast, 211 non-violent conflicts were counted, which could be subdivided into 129 manifest and 82 latent conflicts.
Compared to the previous year, the number of conflicts remained almost the same (344 in 2007 and 345 in 2008).
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

4. Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

5. Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

6. Conflict Items Territory Secession Decolonization Autonomy
System/ideology
National power
Regional predominance
International power
Resources
Others
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

7. It must be noted that conflicts very often involve more than one item.
As in the years before, the most frequent conflict item in 2008 was system/ideology, with 107 cases.
National power ranked second with 74, followed by resources with 71 cases.
It must be noted that conflicts very often involve more than one item.
Combinations of the three most frequent items were common, as was the combination of territory and resources, regional predominance and resources, or international power and system/ideology.
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

8. Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

9. Europe Europe - severe crises Georgia (Abkhazia) - secession
Georgia (South Ossetia) - secession
Russia (Islamist rebels/Ingushetia) - secession, system/ideology
Europe - wars
Russia - Georgia - international power
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

10. Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa - severe crises
Burundi (Palipehutu-FNL Rwasa) - national power
DR Congo (Bundu dia Kongo) - autonomy, system/ideology
DR Congo (CNDP) - regional predominance, resources, other
Kenya (opposition) - national power
Kenya (SLDF) - regional predominance
Mali (Tuareg/Kidal) - autonomy, resources
Nigeria (Christians - Muslims) - system/ideology
Nigeria (MEND, Ijaw/Niger Delta) - regional predominance, resources
Sudan (SPLM/A / South Sudan) - territory, secession, resources
Sub-Saharan Africa - wars
Chad (various rebel groups) - national power
Somalia (UIC) - system/ideology, national power
Sudan (Darfur) - regional predominance, resources
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

11. The Americas The Americas - severe crises
Colombia (FARC) - system/ideology, regional predominance, resources
Mexico (drug cartels) - regional predominance, resources
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

12. Asia and Oceania Asia and Oceania - severe crises
India (Islamists) - system/ideology
India (Kashmir) - secession
India (MPLF, ZRA, KCP/Manipur) - secession
India (Naxalites) - system/ideology
Pakistan (BLA, BRA, BLF/Balochistan) - secession, resources
Pakistan (North and South Waziristan) - autonomy, system/ideology
Pakistan (Sunnites - Shiites) - system/ideology, regional predominance
Philippines (CPP, NPA) - system/ideology
Philippines (MILF/Mindanao) - autonomy, system/ideology, resources
Thailand (Muslim separatists/southern border provinces) - secession, system/ideology
Asia and Oceania - wars
Pakistan (Islamists) - system/ideology, national power
Sri Lanka (LTTE) - secession
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research

13. The Middle East and Maghreb
The Middle East and Maghreb - severe crises
Iran (PJAK/Kurdish areas) - autonomy
Iraq (al-Zarqawi group/AQI) - system/ideology, national power
Iraq (insurgents) - system/ideology, national power
Israel (PNA, al-Fatah, Hamas/Palestine) - secession, system/ideology, resources
Lebanon (religious groups) - system/ideology, national power
Yemen (Believing Youth Movement) - system/ideology
The Middle East and Maghreb - wars
Afghanistan (Taliban) - system/ideology, national power
Iraq (al-Sadr group) - system/ideology, national power
Turkey (PKK/KONGRA-GEL / Kurdish areas) - autonomy
Source: Conflict Barometer 2008, Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research