IB Global Politics -- Peace and Conflict Exam Questions and Answers

Types of conflict - Answer- Non-violent -peaceful demonstrations, strikes, political campaigns, diplomacy, trade war- and violent -terrorist attacks, civil war, interstate war (between states), insurgency or guerrilla war, genocide. Conflict Misconceptions - Answer- 1. conflict is caused by a single factor - its all about oil 2. conflict party are unitary actors - they are involved for the same reason/aim 3. conflict is always visible Conditions that make conflict MORE likely - Answer- 1. Little or no democratic means of dispute resolution; minorities excluded from political representation 2.Wealth, territory, or resources shared unequally and controlled by powerful elites 3. Poverty 4. Human rights abused 5. Government is above the law, making arbitrary and illegitimate decisions 6. Judicial system is absent or interfered with, not dependent or fair Conditions that make conflict LESS likely - Answer- 1. Democratic institutions exist, with full political equality and participation 2.Equal sharing of wealth and resources 3. Equal opportunity for all 4.Respect for human rights (especially of minorities) 5. Government respects the rule of law 6.Disputes can be solved fairly through a fair and independent judicial system Galtung's Conflict Triangle - Answer- All three act together to encourage conflict - they reinforce each other. Example of Contradiction on Galtung's Conflict Triangle - Answer- Sunni majority is in conflict with the President's Shia Alwite sect, which has kept drawn in Sunni and Shia regional powers Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shia). Sunni feel marginalized by Assad's Shia-led governments. Islamic State believed it was legitimate to create a Sunni Muslim caliphate across Iraq and Syria and did not accept international borders as they were defined. Example of Attitudes/Assumptions on Galtung's Conflict Triangle - Answer- Assad government believes it should stay in power, that rebel forces are 'terrorists; challenging the legitimate authority at the state. Sunni rebels feel Assad government is not legitimate, demanding greater representation and political equality, Sunnis marginalized by Assad's Shia-led government. Example of Behavior on Galtung's Conflict Triangle - Answer- Assad government military campaign against insurgency, chemical weapon attacks Sunni rebel forces violent insurgency campaign against the Assad government Islamic State military campaign to establish Sunni Islamic caliphate, fought against Shia Muslims and Assad government; execution of Western journalists. Justification of Conflict - Just-War Theory - Answer- It relates to the decision to begin conflict. It's a philosophical, not political, consensus. CRITERIA = 1. Right authority - Those starting violent conflict should have legitimate authority to do so. 2. Just cause -For a cause to be just, it must have the objective of restoring peace. It must not have an objective of material gain, for example of resources or territory. 3. Probability of success - If the cause is just, it must also be achievable. 4.Proportionality. Any action taken must be proportionate to the initial act of aggression. 5.Last resort. Efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully (for example, through diplomacy and negotiation) must have been attempted and been exhausted before violence becomes a legitimate course of action. Justification of Conflict - International Laws - Answer- UN Security Council to determines 'the existence of threats to the peace, breach of peace, or act of aggression' and to take military and non-military action to 'restore international peace and security'. 1. Request for help. Military action is seen to be legitimate in international law if a nation-state requests help form others. 2. Responsibility to Protect (R2P). In 2005, the UN General Assembly agreed to the principle of states having a 'Responsibility to Protect' their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Justification of Conflict - International Laws - Answer- Jus in bello. International law and treaties govern the conduct of armed conflict. Agreements by treaty are only binding for states that have signed those treaties and are certainly not binding for non-state groups Treaties include: a) Geneva and Hague Conventions-under international humanitarian law, these conventions govern the conduct of armed conflict, including protection of civilians, hospitals, the injured and proper treatment of prisoners b) The Geneva Protocol-a treaty prohibiting the use of asphyxiating or poisonous gases. c) Ottawa Treaty (1997)-prohibits the use of landmines by treaty. d) Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008)-a treaty applicable in international law only to those states that have signed it, prohibiting the use of cluster bombs (none of the major combatants in the Syrian war have signed it). Conflict Resolution - escalation/de-escalation steps - Answer- Stage of Conflict Ideal Response Difference Cultural/community peacebuilding Contradiction Structural peacebuilding Polarization Elite peacemaking Violence Peacekeeping War War limitation Ceasefire Peacekeeping Agreement Elite peacemaking Normalization Structural peacebuilding Reconciliation Cultural/community peacebuilding Conflict Resolution Examples - Answer- DIFFERENCE: The Southern Sudan Peace Commission (2006) was created with the goal of promoting peaceful coexistence among the people of South Sudan, along with an 'early warning system' for potential conflict. VIOLENCE: UN peacekeepers were sent to Rwanda (1994) but their rules of engagement prevented them from intervening directly to stop genocide. CEASEFIRE: Colombia's largest rebel group (FARC) agreed to a series of ceasefires in negotiations with the Colombian government. RECONCILIATION: An International Commission of Inquiry established by the UN reported that the government of Sudan had not pursued a policy of genocide in the Darfur region. --> plus others on the powerpoint UN Peacekeeping - Answer- Efforts by third parties to intervene in wars and prevent hostilities within or between states. It has a very small budget, no war-fighting capacity brings political legitimacy. There are 3 basic principles of UN peacekeeping: consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force except in self-defense/defense of the mandate.