2016-12-22



How can we establish the world without armed conflicts ?, It's simple, just end wars and push diplomatic measures.it might Seem as a cake walk, but it's paradoxical, The world without armed conflicts is a distant dream. War was born along with the civilizations. When a group of people with similar interests, ethnic identities, and unity, decides to live together, the grouping gets its own single and a collective identity, and begins to act as a single unit or a person, that person would only look after his own survival and undermines the existence of others. Even though civilizations paved the way towards formations of empires and in turn into nation states, the latter prevailed, the selfishness of groupings.which makes them ignore the right to live by other groupings. As Darwin states, it's a battle for survival of the fittest.

The 20th century was riddled with armed conflicts. Each year small scale conflicts were taking shape abruptly and in the majority of cases, led to major conflicts.Even both World Wars were the product of ultranationalism and the battle for colonies. The global political and mode of communication were primal, and this stage could be regarded as a stage of gradual transformation into more matured beings. The strive for fetching more power by nations led to industrial revolution, expanding Empires and triggered an arms race. The sustainability of resources and climate were not taken into account and the Industries using primitive technologies made our planet a gas chamber. The Invention of nuclear bombs and two world wars caused uttermost destruction. The cold war and the concept of MAD put the world on the verge of apocalypse.  The socialist principles were slowly eroded and the capitalist free market concepts began to take shape.

In the 21st century, with the breakthroughs in transportation and communication, the world became much more connected. With the advent of free media and citizen journalism, the barriers for gaining information were collapsed.With the breakthrough in communication technology, the information became easily accessible at any time anywhere around the globe. The affordable air travel connected the world and enabled enhanced people to people relations, unlike the past century. This also enabled more participation of people in decision-making process, and the function of parliament and other establishments are no more confined to brick walls. This changed the way in which government, as well as the military organs, functions. They became more people oriented. and the people began to influence the decision taking of government in every aspect.

The beginning of the 21st century was marked by the increased threat projected by non-state actors.The attack of 09/11 and rise of ISIS, stirred the world against the threat possessed by non-state actors. There were spread of extremist religious ideologies, and the world united to fight against the threat of Terrorism. The ongoing war on terror caused a large number of casualties and made Afghanistan and Iraq much more unstable. The Arab spring, which toppled many authoritarian regimes in the middle east, caused widespread destruction of properties and at the same time enabled the spreading of democratic ideologies along the region.

As resources are becoming scarce and the climate change deals are dwindling the economic progress of developing nations, the world is slowly witnessing a shift in political environment. The Economic and refugee crisis are looming the developed economies and the concept of globalization is slowly fading away. Ultranationalism is slowly sweeping the globe, which in the future further undermine the stability of the geopolitical environment. Ultranationalism could make the nations to ignore the treaties and even to escalate small conflicts into full-scale wars without considering the option of settling the disputes by diplomatic measures. This could further undermine the regional stability. The Russia-US standoff over Syrian civil war and Ukraine, south china sea conflict, the ongoing arms race in the south Asian region, The BREXIT and the civil wars in African nations, indicates that the 21st century won't be a century of tranquility.

Peace is only possible when we agree to work towards a sustainable global growth by shedding regional and ethnic rivalries. But as human can't transform into a species like the one above and the hope for a peaceful world will remain as a distant dream forever!

21ST CENTURY CONFLICTS

1999, 23rd September to 2009

Second Chechen War

Chechen Republic of Ichkeria against Russia

began 2001, 12th September, ongoing

War Against Terror

NATO, the United States, United Kingdom against Taliban, Al-Qaida, ISIL

2001, 7th October to 2015, 13th March

Afghanistan War (Part of the War Against Terror)

USA, Afghanistan, UK, Australia, France, Canada against Taliban, Al-Qaida

2003, 20th March to 2011, 11th December

Iraq War

The USA, the UK, (multi-national forces withdrawn before end of conflict) against Iraq

began 2004, 16th March, ongoing

War in North-West Pakistan (Part of the War Against Terror)

The USA, Pakistan against Taliban, Al-Qaida, ISIL

2008, 7th August to 2008, 16th August

Russia–Georgia war

Georgia against Russia, South Ossetia

2008, December 28th to 2009, January 18th

Gaza War (Part of the Arab-Israeli Conflict)

Gaza Strip against Israel

began 2009, 31st January, ongoing

War in Somalia (Part of the War Against Terror) (Part of the Somalian Civil War)

Somalia, Ethiopia against Al-Qaida, Mujahedeen

2010, 18th December to 2011, 14th January

Tunisian Revolution (Part of the Arab Spring)

Ben Ali government against Popular protests, demonstrations, strikes, self-immolation

2011, 25th January to 2011, 11th February

Egyptian Revolution (Part of the Arab Spring)

Hosni Mubarak government against Popular protests, demonstrations, strikes, self-immolation

2011, 27th January to 2012, 27th February

Yemeni Revolution (Part of the Arab Spring)

Saleh government against Popular protests, demonstrations, strikes, self-immolation

2011, 15th February to 2011, 23rd October

Libyan Civil War (Part of the Arab Spring)

Pro-Gaddafi Forces against National Liberation Army, Qatar, NATO

began 2011, 15th March, ongoing

Syrian Civil War

Bashar al-Assad government against Rebel forces including ISIS

2012, 14th November to 2012, 21st November

Gaza War (Part of the Arab-Israeli Conflict)

Gaza Strip against Israel

began 2014, 6th April, ongoing

War in Ukraine/Donbass War

Ukraine against Russia, Donetsk, Luhansk

Table of conflicts and more can be viewed on:http://www.totallytimelines.com/wars-20th-century/

Content from Totally Timelines, only for educational purpose, and not being used for commercial purpose

Sources:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/timeline-of-20th-and-21st-century-wars

http://www.historyguy.com/21st_century_wars.html

http://www.totallytimelines.com/wars-21st-century/

http://www.totallytimelines.com/wars-20th-century/

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