GLOBAL ISSUES:GLOBAL ISSUES:

CONFLICT CONFLICT and and

COOPERATIONCOOPERATION

What causes What causes warswars in the world today?in the world today?

What role does What role does GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY play in world play in world

conflicts?conflicts?

ConflictConflict is a state of is a state of discord caused by the discord caused by the

actual or perceived actual or perceived opposition of opposition of needsneeds, , values values and and interestsinterests. .

Conflict can refer to Conflict can refer to warswars, , revolutionsrevolutions

or other struggles, or other struggles, which may involve which may involve

the the use of forceuse of force..

What What causescauses conflict conflict among nations or among nations or

regions? regions? Among the world’s Among the world’s

peoples?peoples?

Basically, all types Basically, all types of international and of international and

regional conflicts can be regional conflicts can be categorized as categorized as

developing from developing from 1. 1. ECONOMICECONOMIC

2. 2. POLITICALPOLITICAL, or , or 3. 3. CULTURALCULTURAL causes. causes.

ECONOMIC ECONOMIC CAUSES:CAUSES:

Conflict may arise over Conflict may arise over struggle for territory…struggle for territory…

Some nations wish to Some nations wish to expandexpand their lands their lands

by taking over by taking over territoryterritory owned by their neighbors.owned by their neighbors.

Why might such a Why might such a takeover be desired?takeover be desired?

Often, nations seek more Often, nations seek more territory because they territory because they

need more need more natural natural resourcesresources..

Such resources might Such resources might include include fossil fuelsfossil fuels or or

valuable valuable mineralsminerals, , good good agricultural landsagricultural lands, ,

waterwater resources, resources, even even accessaccess to the sea to the sea

for trading purposes.for trading purposes.

Such wars over resources Such wars over resources are considered wars are considered wars

started for “started for “economiceconomic” ” reasons.reasons.

POLITICAL POLITICAL CAUSES:CAUSES:

Other times, nations and Other times, nations and people wish to takeover people wish to takeover neighboring lands purely neighboring lands purely to to exerciseexercise their their powerpower..

Often these causes for Often these causes for conflict are referred to as conflict are referred to as

““nationalistnationalist” or ” or ““politicalpolitical” reasons. ” reasons.

People of a region or People of a region or nation are proud of their nation are proud of their heritage heritage and believe they and believe they

possess they right to possess they right to takeover and takeover and rulerule another another

group of people just group of people just because they are because they are

powerfulpowerful enough to do so! enough to do so!

Another type of Another type of ““politicalpolitical” conflict might ” conflict might

arise between those in arise between those in power power

(control of the (control of the governmentgovernment) and ) and citizens citizens

within the country within the country who feel they have not who feel they have not

been treated fairly.been treated fairly.

Such citizens might have Such citizens might have been denied political or been denied political or civil rightscivil rights, such as the , such as the

right to vote, right to vote, to speak freely, or to speak freely, or

to receive fair treatment to receive fair treatment

in courts of law.in courts of law.

CULTURAL CULTURAL CAUSES:CAUSES:

Many of today’s Many of today’s international conflicts international conflicts

begin because of begin because of differences in differences in cultureculture..

Such cultural differences Such cultural differences are often are often religiousreligious

differences.differences.

Unfortunately, some Unfortunately, some religious groups feel their religious groups feel their

particular religion is particular religion is superior to others’ and superior to others’ and

such such intoleranceintolerance leads to conflict.leads to conflict.

Other Other culturalcultural conflicts conflicts are based on are based on ethnicethnic or or racial racial differences differences

between groups of people between groups of people living near one another. living near one another.

One ethnic or racial group One ethnic or racial group may feel superior to others. may feel superior to others. This may lead to This may lead to prejudiceprejudice and and discrimination discrimination against the against the minorityminority ethic or racial group. ethic or racial group.

ViolenceViolence or warfare might or warfare might eventually break out eventually break out

when minority groups when minority groups attempt to fight for their attempt to fight for their

individual individual rights or rights or libertiesliberties..

EXAMPLES of EXAMPLES of INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL

CONFLICT:CONFLICT:

ECONOMIC ECONOMIC CAUSES:CAUSES:

In 1990, Iraq invaded In 1990, Iraq invaded its neighbor Kuwait its neighbor Kuwait in an attempt to in an attempt to takeover the rich takeover the rich oilfields located oilfields located there…there…

Over the past decades, Over the past decades, Peru and Chile engaged Peru and Chile engaged in border disputes and in border disputes and

lawsuits in international lawsuits in international courts over fishing courts over fishing

rights rights off the Pacific coastline.off the Pacific coastline.

Disputes are ongoing Disputes are ongoing between Israel between Israel

and its neighbors, and its neighbors, Lebanon and Syria, Lebanon and Syria, over use of water over use of water

resources from shared resources from shared river and aquifer river and aquifer

systems.systems.

Major land disputes around the world

POLITICAL POLITICAL CAUSES:CAUSES:

In 1989, university In 1989, university students led strikes and students led strikes and

protests against the protests against the Chinese government to Chinese government to

challenge challenge that nation’s that nation’s

authoritarian Communist authoritarian Communist government policies government policies

banning free speech and banning free speech and open elections.open elections.

Two times in the 20Two times in the 20thth century, the nation of century, the nation of Germany invaded its Germany invaded its

European neighbors in an European neighbors in an attempt to takeover attempt to takeover

their territory; their territory;

these attempts led to these attempts led to World War I and II.World War I and II.

In the 1980s, the Soviet In the 1980s, the Soviet Union sent troops into Union sent troops into

Afghanistan, Afghanistan, in an attempt to support in an attempt to support a Communist government a Communist government

there, while the United there, while the United States States

sent aid and military support sent aid and military support

of rebels against the of rebels against the Soviet-backed government.Soviet-backed government.

CULTURAL CULTURAL CAUSES:CAUSES:

In the mid 1990s, civil war In the mid 1990s, civil war

in Rwanda broke out in Rwanda broke out between two major between two major

ethnic groups, each side ethnic groups, each side seeking power and seeking power and

committing horrible committing horrible crimes against civilians.crimes against civilians.

Over the last half century, Over the last half century, the nation of Israel the nation of Israel

has defended itself against has defended itself against several military attacks several military attacks

by its Arab neighbors by its Arab neighbors who have opposed who have opposed

a Jewish state a Jewish state in the Middle East.in the Middle East.

Religious and cultural Religious and cultural differences between Muslim differences between Muslim

and Hindu citizens of India in and Hindu citizens of India in the 1930s and 1940s led to the the 1930s and 1940s led to the

partitioning of India, partitioning of India, creating the Muslim nations of creating the Muslim nations of

Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan and Bangladesh.

These two nations These two nations are still involved are still involved

in border disputes.in border disputes.

In the 1970s and 1980s, In the 1970s and 1980s, violence broke our between violence broke our between

Catholic Catholic and Protestants and Protestants

in Northern Ireland. in Northern Ireland.

Religious differences between Religious differences between the two sides extended to the two sides extended to

social, economic, and political social, economic, and political discrimination, as well.discrimination, as well.

Several times in the 1980s Several times in the 1980s and 1990s, civil war broke and 1990s, civil war broke

out within the former nation out within the former nation of Yugoslavia as ethnic of Yugoslavia as ethnic

groups sought to establish groups sought to establish their own sovereign nations.their own sovereign nations.

As you study about the As you study about the regions of the world, regions of the world, analyze the causes of analyze the causes of international conflict. international conflict.

Are they Are they politicalpolitical, , economiceconomic, ,

and/or and/or cultural cultural causes? causes?

And what can be And what can be done to done to resolveresolve and and

avoidavoid such such conflicts?conflicts?

GLOBAL ISSUES:GLOBAL ISSUES:

CONFLICT CONFLICT and and

COOPERATIONCOOPERATION

GLOBAL ISSUES:GLOBAL ISSUES:

Created by Pam Merrill, Created by Pam Merrill, Edmond Public SchoolsEdmond Public Schools