Regional Conflicts Research Articles

Conflict-Induced Displacement and Food Insecurity: The Case Of Burkina Faso As Sahel’s Growing Epicenter of Conflict

This article discusses how the military conflict in Burkina Faso affects food insecurity and the welfare of its people. This issue poses a threat to its citizens' ability to achieve human security, which focuses on welfare and basic human rights, including the availability and access to adequate food. This article is qualitative research, and the analysis of this phenomenon comes from reference articles, books, news, reports, and official documents. The theoretical approach used is related to Conflict-Induced Displacement, Human Security, and the four main dimensions of Food Security, namely food availability, access, utilization, stability, and displacement of communities due to conflict. The results of the analysis show that the geographic location of the country of Burkina Faso, which is confined between the West African mainland, makes it vulnerable to military conflict affiliated with Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and is now the center of conflict in the Sahel region. The author also found out that the main reason for ongoing hunger and malnutrition in Burkina Faso is because its people were forced to be displaced due to armed conflict in the region.

Cold War Dynamics: The Strategic Interplay of Turkish-American Relations

Purpose: This article investigates the primary determinants of Turkish-American relations during the Cold War, focusing on key events and policies that influenced bilateral interactions. It aims to understand the impact of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO alliances, the Cyprus issue, and the Kurdish conflict on these relations. The study also critically assesses the role of ethnic lobbies, such as the Armenian and Greek communities, in shaping U.S. foreign policy towards Turkey. Method: Utilizing a comprehensive historical analysis, this research draws on different sources including speeches, and official correspondences, as well as secondary sources such as academic books, journal articles, and theses. This methodological approach allows for an in-depth exploration of the complex interplay between domestic politics and international diplomacy. Conclusion: The study reveals that Turkish-American relations during the Cold War were shaped by a combination of strategic alliances, regional conflicts, and domestic political influences. Key policies like the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were instrumental in solidifying Turkey as a critical ally, while events such as the Cyprus issue and the Kurdish conflict presented significant challenges. The influence of ethnic lobbies also played a crucial role in shaping bilateral relations. Implication of the Research: The insights gained from this analysis provide valuable lessons for future diplomatic efforts, emphasizing the need for cooperation, diversification of partnerships, and strategic alignment. Understanding the historical context of Turkish-American relations can inform current and future diplomacy, helping to navigate the complexities of this bilateral relationship. Originality of the Research: This research offers a unique and comprehensive examination of Turkish-American relations during the Cold War, incorporating a critical assessment of both strategic policies and the influence of ethnic lobbies. By providing a nuanced understanding of these factors, the study contributes original insights to the field of international relations and foreign policy analysis.

Lighting up mountain coexistence: Understanding the effects of environment and livestock on habitat use by Andean bear in a conflict zone in Peruvian Andes

In Tropical Andes, livestock predation is the main cause of conflict between Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) and humans. In central Peru, the small village of San Pedro de Churco, located in buffer zone of Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary, has experienced a conflict with Andean bears since 2013 due to the livestock depredation of cattle. To create a baseline for formulating mitigation measures, we seek to analyze which environmental and anthropogenic characteristics best explain the habitat use by the Andean bear in this conflict region. Using camera traps, transects, and occupancy modeling, we distributed 16 sampling units in the conflict area from May 2019 to November 2020. We collected seven variables: slope, forest cover, the occurrence of Puya bromeliads, livestock abundance, distance from S.P. Churco village, distance to trails, and rainfall. We expected that variables linked to food resources would have a large explanatory weight (w+) positively on habitat use by the Andean bear, while anthropogenic variables would have a negative impact on the species’ habitat use due to disturbances caused by human activity. Our results demonstrated the importance of maintaining the cloud forests (w+=0.61) and the high-Andean grasslands with Puya (w+=0.66) for the establishment of the Andean bear in conflict areas, in addition to the effect of seasonality (w+=0.63) on the use of different habitats and the resource availability for the species. However, the presence of abundant livestock (w+=-0.64) may be causing the displacement of bears, negatively impacting the availability of their habitats in conflict zones. The habitat use rate by bears across the study area was 0.69 with a detectability of 0.15, and we identified six individuals through the body marks. Based on the results and the conflict landscape, we mapped the focal areas sampling with the greatest potential for livestock depredation by Andean bears and the implications for management and coexistence. Measures that conserve cloud forests and the Puya grasslands, as well as more sustainable and profitable livestock management practices can be prioritized to reduce human-bear conflict in the region.

The Impact of Contemporary International Wars on International Security - A Case Russia's War on Ukraine and Israel's War on Gaza

The conflict between states since the dawn of history is natural because of the existence of scruples and motives in the structure of human existence. The methods of this conflict evolve with the development of technologies, political systems and the nature of interests. Therefore, the wars directly and indirectly affect various aspects of life, especially peace and community security, regionally the internationally. This happens in particular in light of the globalization of the world and mutual relations and common interests, and the development in the means of communication and technology. Thus, distant parties suffer from the effects and consequences of wars and conflicts in other regions because relations and the need for waterways or economic aspects may be affected by conflict or wars. From here the international interest in the issue of security and peace from the countries arose. Especially the Security Council and the United Nations worked to prevent conflicts on the one hand, stop them or minimize their effects. Many conflicts and wars have erupted in the region, some of which have lasted for years, and others return in each period to arise under what justification. Many wars affected in another way on energy sources, and on the national security of countries and the interests of countries, but some countries have ambitions, strategies and rules, and this study. It deals with examples of wars that posed a threat and caused effects on the international security system, which is the Russian war - Ukrainian, and the Israeli war on Gaza in 2023. This study seeks to show the impact of contemporary wars on international security, societal stability, the development process and building a global peace and security and identifying motives and effects and ways to address them.

Living with elephants: Analyzing commonalities and differences in human-elephant conflicts in China and Tanzania based on residents' perspectives

Humans and elephants inevitably encounter competition over resources in the elephant habitat. Due to different social development conditions, there may be differences in how humans and elephants coexist in different regions, mainly reflected in the attitude toward elephant conservation and the ability to cope with conflicts. By comparing human-elephant conflicts in different regions, it helps to explore the long-term coexistence path between humans and elephants. This paper selects the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in China, the habitat of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), and the Nyerere-Selous-Mikumi region in Tanzania, the habitat of African steppe elephants (Loxodonta africana), as the study area, and assesses the current situation of human-elephant conflict in the study area through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, to understand the residents' perception of the conflict and the willingness of residents to protect elephants, and empirically analyze the factors affecting the residents' willingness to protect. The results showed that the types of human-elephant conflicts in the Xishuangbanna (China) and the surrounding areas of the Nyerere-Selous-Mikumi ecosystem in Tanzania were similar, and the respondents in the Xishuangbanna region (China) suffered more losses but had a stronger willingness to protect elephants. Besides, residents that are less impacted by conflict, have higher household incomes and more diversified livelihood sources are likely to have a stronger willingness to protect the elephant. This study emphasizes the role of socioeconomic development and governance capacity enhancement in mitigating human-elephant conflict, providing a richer perspective on the governance of human-elephant conflict.

Reflecting on the Rise and Decline of the South African Defence Industry

The South African Defence Industry has undergone several significant changes during the past six decades, with its current state being deemed unfavourable for continued survivability. To develop a robust understanding of the industry, a review of the scientific literature (and government policies) has been undertaken to chart the trends in the industry through the decades. South African political ideologies in the sixties and seventies resulted in a need for self-sufficiency in defence. By the late eighties, increased military spending resulted in a powerful and capable defence industry, but the end of apartheid and regional conflicts saw an expected sharp drop in the defence budget. The Strategic Defence Package offered some respite in terms of exports, but this has declined in the recent past. The defence budget has remained at a steady low value for two decades, with no real possibility of an increase. To maintain relevance and ensure organisational resilience, the remnants of the South African Defence Industry should use the Defence Industry Strategy as a baseline to develop robust local relationships to drive innovation and foster economic growth, while also strengthening international market share by strengthening unique South African technologies.

China’s ‘Liquid’ Warfighting Shift and Its Implications for Possible Future Conflict

Some suggest that remote, precision strike warfare is a Western phenomenon motivated by aversion to high troop casualties among democratic leaders subject to re-election. Others contend that it is the result of a global transition in the way of modern war towards ‘liquid warfare’, centred around the disruption of adversary networks in the increasingly integrated and high-tech battlespace. This article advances the debate by applying the liquid warfare hypothesis to China’s post-1993 military reforms. It finds (a) that China’s development and embrace of its prevailing ‘systems destruction warfare’ concept constitutes a liquid shift in its warfighting approach, dispelling the contention that such transformations are necessarily linked with democratic political systems; and (b) that the liquidification of China’s warfighting approach has immediate implications for possible regional conflict scenarios, particularly those involving the United States, making them mutually costlier and susceptible to rapid escalation.

Paradoxes of the Anti-crisis Role of Fiscal Federalism: Analytical Review of Studies

The analytical review of studies of the anti-crisis role of fiscal federalism during economic, ecological, epidemic challenges and territorial conflicts in 1950–2024 reveals four paradoxes. The first of them indicates the scientific validity of the positive anti-crisis effect of fiscal decentralization. But when crises arise in practice, decentralization turns out to be unclaimed, and preference is given to centralization. The second paradox is related to the nonlinear positive effect of fiscal decentralization on economic growth, natural resources consumption, and carbon emissions. For example, the nonlinear positive effect of decentralization is achieved when the institutional context is improved. The third paradox is the relatively weak methodological elaboration of fiscal federalism during pandemic challenges, although it had the greatest practical relevance compared to more in-depth econometric studies of economic and environmental challenges. The fourth paradox is that fiscal federalism can both resolve the territorial conflict and create the preconditions for its resumption in the future. The peacemaking conditions of fiscal federalism are transparency and stability of inter-budget transfers, as well as insured access of the conflict region to its natural resources.

Advancing coordination in critical maritime infrastructure protection: Lessons from maritime piracy and cybersecurity

Critical maritime infrastructure protection has become a priority in ocean governance, particularly in Europe. Increased geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and the Nord Stream pipeline attacks in the Baltic Sea of September 2022 have been the main catalysts for this development. Calls for enhancing critical maritime infrastructure protection have multiplied, yet, what this implies in practice is less clear. This is partially a question of engineering and risk analysis. It also concerns how the multitude of actors involved can act concertedly. Dialogue, information sharing, and coordination are required, but there is a lack of discussion about which institutional set ups would lend themselves. In this article, we argue that the maritime counter-piracy operations off Somalia, as well as maritime cybersecurity governance hold valuable lessons to provide new answers for the institutional question in the critical maritime infrastructure protection agenda. We start by clarifying what is at stake in the CMIP agenda and why it is a major contemporary governance challenge. We then examine and assess the instruments found in maritime counter-piracy and maritime cybersecurity governance, including why and how they provide effective solutions for enhancing critical maritime infrastructure protection. Finally, we assess the ongoing institution building for CMIP in Europe. While we focus on the European experience, our discussion on designing institutions carries forward lessons for CMIP in other regions, too.

Role and importance of Egypt in regional geopolitics

The article analyzes the role and significance of the Arab Republic of Egypt in regional geopolitics at the present stage. The author pays special attention to the specific role of its armed forces, which not only perform tasks to protect the state from external threats and combat terrorism,but also take an active part in the internal political and economic life of the country. The peaceful nature of Egypt's foreign policy is emphasized, Cairo's desire to take part in the work of the UN, Arab League, AU, OIC, BRICS, EU, other international and regional organizations, and to maintain mutually beneficial relations with leading world powers, Israel, Arab, African and Asian countries on a bilateral basis. Diversifi cation of Egypt's foreign policy and foreign economic relations with foreign countries, maintaining a balance of interests of all countries interested in Egypt ensure stability and progressive development of the state in all areas. The author also points out the continuing objective diffi culties and even crisis phenomena in the Egyptian economy: infl ation, devaluation of the national currency, large external borrowings, youth unemployment, loss of income from the operation of the Suez Canal, the tourism industry, etc. The next serious test for the country was the tragic events in the Gaza Strip, when the Israel Defense Forces launched a large-scale military operation against the militants of the radical Islamist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad (the latter is recognized as terrorist and is banned in Russia). The threat of an uncontrolled exodus of hundreds of thousands of refugees from this Palestinian exclave to the Sinai Peninsula requires vigilance and preventive measures from Egypt's security forces. Along with this, Egypt remains one of the leaders in the Middle East, Africa, and among Muslim countries. Cairo's emphatically independent foreign policy and neutrality in regional conflicts allows it to maintain strategic partnerships with the United States while simultaneously developing relations with Russia and China in all areas.

Insurer hedging amidst the interplay of black and green swans toward SDGs 3 and 7

Amid regional conflicts and global warming, the interplay of catastrophic events (black swans) and sustainability issues (green swans) emerges, impacting sustainable insurance and environmental initiatives tied to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). This paper develops a structure-break down-and-out option model to investigate insurer hedging strategies toward SDGs 3 and 7 in the context of sustainable insurance amidst the intertwined dance of black and green swans. There are several main results shown as follows. Enhancing hedging strategies bolsters an insurer's interest margin and mitigates default risk. As the impact of events like regional conflicts and global warming intensifies, the adverse effects of hedging on default risk become clearer, enhancing insurance stability. Both black and green swan events positively affect the insurer's interest margin and default risk. Strict capital regulations are vital for sustainable insurance, safeguarding policyholders and fostering stability during extreme events. In essence, employing robust hedging strategies and adhering to rigorous capital regulations within the framework of sustainable insurance, considering both black and green swan events, proves to be instrumental in advancing toward the achievement of SDGs 3 and 7.

The Current Amhara Fano Resistance: Viewed from the Historical Military Tradition of the Amhara People

This paper explores the contemporary Amhara Fano resistance in line with the historical military tradition and warriorhood culture of the Amhara people. Its purpose is twofold: presenting historical facts about Fano's origin and challenging misguided and incomplete portrayals of Fano from media outlets and political commentators concerning Ethiopia’s contemporary politics. The study employs qualitative method, and secondary sources of data from the literature, such as books, journal articles, government and international organization reports, newsletters, and other credible internet sources, are obtained and contextualized for analysis through the qualitative data analysis technique. The paper postulates that the current Fano resistance group originated from the Amhara people’s historical military tradition and warriorhood culture, though it has significantly evolved from a volunteer fighters’ group to a politico-military force with the aim of overthrowing the existing government and changing the country’s political system. In its current resistance movement, initially, Fano's organizational structure consisted of several autonomous fighter groups; however, attempts have recently been made by different Fano groups to avoid fragmented structures and establish military commands for organizational cohesion. The paper contextualizes the Amhara Fano’s resistance within the post-1991 political space of Ethiopia, marked by anti-Amhara narratives and systemic identity-based attacks, as the root cause. Recent developments, such as denying Amhara farmers fertilizer or barring travellers from their region in Addis Ababa, contribute to immediate catalysts. The Ethiopian government's decision in April 2023 to disband regional forces and disarm the Amhara Fano groups escalated the conflict in the Amhara region

Blast protection of underwater tunnels with 3D auxetic materials

Abstract In recent years, the risk of blast attacks on underwater tunnels, important transportation routes, has increased due to the growing prevalence of vicious regional conflicts and global terrorist activities. In this work, we investigate the blast impact behavior of underwater tunnels filled with honeycomb core and covered by solid panels. The core is composed of 3D auxetic materials with high energy absorption compared to conventional honeycombs. In order to improve the stiffness of the auxetic structures, a pair of crossed rods is introduce to each cell. The relative densities of 3D auxetic structures are derived theoretically. The coupling effects of the geometrical parameters on the relative density are investigated. Then the deformation patterns of the underwater tunnels at different blast heights are analyzed. The kinetic energy and absorbed energy are discussed for tunnels with 3D auxetic materials and solid materials. Results show that tunnels composed with 3D reinforced auxetic structures can absorb much more energy than solid ones. Moreover, localized damage is observed which means greater chance of survival and smaller repairs after extreme impact. Finally, a stiffness-improved 3D reinforced auxetic structure is presented to enhance the tunnel’s strength and stability further.

Refugees in Trans-Border Conflict: The Case of Sierra Leone, 1991–2002

The victimization of refugees in the recipient communities has been broadly explored, especially in the context of West African civil wars, however the role refugees had in armed violence against local population and in the maintenance of the regional conflict economy requires further research. In this article, the author examines matters of refugee involvement in a civil war ravaging the recipient country based on the case of Sierra Leone conflict (1991–2002) and role that Liberian refugees played at the outset and different periods of war. The primary aim of this study is to determine the extent to which the role refugees played in the Sierra Leone conflict went beyond the traditional perception of refugee victimhood, the transformation of their involvement in war and the influence of the various regional and extra-regional forces. The existing academic literature on conflict in Sierra Leone is evaluated in accordance with the topic in focus and the extent to which this national experience can be applied to a broader set of regional wars. The role of refugees in trans-border economy is appraised in the theoretical framework of conflict support networks elaborated by William Reno and Jennifer Hazen using the functional analysis methodology treating civil wars as dynamic, with shifting intentions and roles of parties considered. Overall, the article provides additional angle in appraisal of the conflicts in West Africa and the cases of refugees’ involvement in these wars. The Liberian refugees had a changing active role in the conflict, gradually getting entangled in hostilities, illicit actions and violent entrepreneurship, turning from the victims of regional wars with their grievances into the destabilizing force for the recipient state of Sierra Leone and the entire region. The article is based on the materials of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, reports of international humanitarian organizations and documentation of the relevant state structures.

Health burden and attributable economic damage of conflict and terrorism in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

ABSTRACT This study aimed to vividly describe the direct and severe health impacts of conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). It also sought to quantify the staggering portion of economic damage attributable to the health burden of conflict and terrorism. From 1990 to 2019, the region endured the devastating effects of conflict and terrorism. These circumstances led to 64%, 50%, and 35% of all causes of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in Libya, Syria, and Palestine, respectively, in 2011, 2016, and 2008. These figures represent not just statistics but the profound human cost of these conflicts. The health-related economic burden (HEB) due to conflict was estimated at $4.6 billion in Iraq, $3.7 billion in Afghanistan, and $1.7 billion in Libya in current international dollars. However, due to missing data, the HEB could not be calculated for Yemen and Syria despite significant conflict-related DALYs. In 2019, the HEB to Current Health Expenditure (CHE) ratio, which indicates the proportion of the health-related economic burden compared to health expenditure, was 30% in Afghanistan and 25% in Iraq. This high ratio underscores the significant strain that conflict places on the health systems.

A novel data-driven method of ship collision risk evolution evaluation during real encounter situations

Aiming at realizing collision risk quantitative evaluation among encounter ships, a novel data-driven evolution model is proposed concerning encounter evolution in maritime transportation. A probabilistic velocity obstacle with an elliptic conflict region is constructed by taking into account uncertainty. The degree of and time to domain violation are introduced to quantify collision risk levels under varying velocities. Then, a ship collision risk evolution model is formulated by considering spatial attributes, macro-level and micro-level evolution based on a realistic collision avoidance decision. The model parameters and their weights are determined by statistical analysis of historical encounter scenarios and the characteristics of encounter stages. Therefore, the model encapsulates the statistical characteristics of actual data, which improves its practical values. The results of case studies indicate that the collision risk evolution model can properly reflect collision risk, so that collision evolution stages can be classified accordingly for rational anti-collision guidance. It brings new contributions to risk visualization, collision avoidance decision-making, and collision accident analysis and responsibility determination.

Studi Evaluasi Harga Minyak Mentah DuniaTerhadap Perang Rusia Ukraina

This study aims to evaluate how the Russian-Uk rainian war affects world crude oil prices. This conflict plays a significant role in disrupting the production and supply of crude oil in the Black Sea region, which could affect the global supply of crude oil. The evaluation method used is an analysis of the latest literature and economic data. The results show that the Russia-Uk raine war had a significant impact on world crude oil prices, although other factors such as oversupply and reduced demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic also play an important role in determining crude oil prices. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a holistic and continuous evaluation of the various factors that affect world crude oil prices, including regional or geopolitical conflicts. This study provides a better view of how the Russo-Uk rainian war affected world crude oil prices and provides suggestions for a more comprehensive evaluation in the future. Based on the results of this research, it is hoped that it can become information and input for lecturers, researchers, practitioners, and all interested parties at the Faculty of Engineering, Bhayangk ara University, Jak arta Raya.

Culturally responsive data analysis for evaluations in contexts of fragility, conflict, and violence

This article aims to provide practical guidance for conducting culturally responsive data analysis for evaluations in contexts of fragility, conflict and violence. To this end, we propose three core principles – or ‘golden rules’—that must be taken into consideration when analyzing such data. These include the engagement of wise stakeholders in data analysis, the consideration of diversity in detecting and treating outliers and the documentation of all data analysis processes, including the assumptions made. We are aware that applying these principles may pose practical challenges given the complexity of fragile and conflict-based environments. However, doing so can enhance the validity of evaluation findings and their acceptability. Further research is encouraged to empirically test the proposed principles in conflict regions, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The relationship between traumatic exposure and pain perception in children: the moderating role of posttraumatic symptoms.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect approximately half of all children worldwide. These experiences have been linked to increased pain sensitivity in adulthood and a higher likelihood of developing severe chronic pain. However, most studies have assessed the effects of ACEs retrospectively, long after they occurred, leaving room for other factors to influence the observed outcomes. We investigated, for the first time, the association between ACEs and concurrent pain perception among young children who live in a conflict zone and are consistently exposed to potentially traumatic experiences. Participants were 60 elementary school children (ages 8-11 years) living in conflict regions (n = 39) or nonconflict regions (n = 21). Posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) severity, traumatic exposure, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and mechanical detection threshold (MDT) were measured. Trauma-exposed children had significantly lower PPT than did controls, but MDT was similar across groups. Pressure pain threshold correlated positively with proximity to the conflict zone and inversely with traumatic exposure magnitude and PTSS severity. In addition, PTSSs moderated the relationship between repeated traumatic exposure and PPT. Children with higher PTSS severity displayed pain hypersensitivity regardless of their traumatic exposure level, whereas in children with lower PTSS severity, greater traumatic exposure correlated with pain hypersensitivity. The results suggest that ACEs among children lead to concurrent pain hypersensitivity and distress and may put them at elevated risk of chronic pain early in life. In addition, our findings emphasize the need for identifying children with various PTSS levels to provide tailored interventions and mitigate the long-term negative effects of ACEs.

Mapping the European Union’s Renewable Energy Transition Amidst the Russo-Ukrainian War

This research paper delves into the complex interplay between the European Union's (EU) ambitious renewable energy transition and the geopolitical backdrop of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Against the backdrop of evolving global energy dynamics and the EU's commitment to sustainability, the study aims to elucidate how the conflict has shaped and influenced the EU's pursuit of renewable energy sources. The Russo-Ukrainian War, marked by geopolitical tensions and energy security concerns, has prompted the EU to reassess its energy landscape. The paper employs a multi-faceted approach, combining geopolitical analysis, policy evaluation, and energy infrastructure mapping to understand how the conflict has impacted the EU's renewable energy strategies. It scrutinises the policy shifts, regulatory frameworks, and investment patterns in the renewable energy sector within the EU member states. Furthermore, the research investigates the role of energy diplomacy and the EU's efforts to diversify its energy sources in response to the geopolitical instability stemming from the conflict. It explores the challenges and opportunities presented by the war, such as the urgency for energy independence and the need for cohesive cross-border collaboration. By employing data-driven analyses and case studies, this paper contributes to the broader discourse on the intersection of geopolitics and renewable energy transitions. It offers insights into the dynamic relationship between regional conflicts and the imperative for sustainable energy practices, providing policymakers, scholars, and industry stakeholders with valuable perspectives on navigating the intricate landscape of renewable energy transitions in the midst of geopolitical uncertainties.