Civil war is a form of armed conflict that occurs within a country, typically between different groups or factions within the same nation.
It is characterized by organized and sustained violence, often involving the use of military force, between actors within the country, rather than conflicts between states.
Operational Aspects of Civil War:
- Actors: Civil wars involve various actors, such as government forces, rebel groups, militias, and sometimes foreign intervention. These actors may have different motivations, including political, ethnic, religious, or economic factors.
- Objectives: The objectives in a civil war can vary significantly. Rebel groups may seek to overthrow the government, gain territorial control, secede from the state, or fight for political or social change. The government aims to maintain its power, suppress the rebellion, or protect the state’s unity.
- Tactics and Strategies: Both government forces and rebel groups employ a range of tactics and strategies, including guerrilla warfare, conventional military operations, sabotage, terrorism, and propaganda. Tactics can differ based on the geographical terrain, available resources, and the balance of power between the parties involved.
- Duration: Civil wars can be protracted, lasting for years or even decades. The duration can be influenced by factors such as the strength and cohesion of the opposing forces, the level of external support, the availability of resources, and the effectiveness of peacebuilding efforts.
- Humanitarian Impact: Civil wars often have a devastating impact on civilian populations. They result in significant casualties, displacement, and the violation of human rights. Humanitarian crises, including food shortages, displacement, and the breakdown of infrastructure and services, are common consequences of civil wars.
Structural Aspects of Civil War:
- Grievances and Divisions: Civil wars are often rooted in underlying grievances and divisions within a society, such as ethnic, religious, or political tensions. Economic disparities, social inequalities, and exclusion can also contribute to the emergence of conflict.
- State Weakness: A weak or fragile state can provide an enabling environment for civil war to occur. Weak governance, corruption, lack of institutional capacity, and limited control over territory can create conditions conducive to rebellion and armed conflict.
- External Factors: External actors, such as neighboring countries, international organizations, or non-state entities, can play a significant role in fueling or mitigating civil wars. External support to rebel groups, arms trafficking, or interventions for strategic interests can exacerbate conflicts, while international mediation efforts and peacekeeping operations can contribute to conflict resolution.
- Resources and Economic Factors: Control over valuable resources, such as oil, diamonds, or natural gas, can be a driving factor in civil wars. The competition for control and access to these resources can fuel violence and prolong conflicts. Economic factors, including poverty, unemployment, and inequality, can also contribute to grievances and increase the likelihood of civil war.
- Political and Institutional Factors: The nature of political institutions, power-sharing arrangements, and the inclusivity of the political system can affect the likelihood of civil war. Exclusionary governance, lack of political representation, or the absence of democratic processes can create grievances and tensions that lead to armed conflict.
Understanding both the operational and structural aspects of civil war is crucial for comprehending the complexities and dynamics of such conflicts. It highlights the range of factors that contribute to the outbreak, continuation, and resolution of civil wars, and informs strategies for conflict prevention, management, and peacebuilding.