History and Citizenship

Unit 13:FORMS, CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE

Conflict and violence

Activity 13.1

Read the following story.

 Gatete’s face was full of wrinkles. He appeared older than his age. In fact, one would think he was competing with his age in a race that he had already lost. The wrinkles on his face were as a result of hatred. Gatete hated everybody around him. It would be wrong to say that he was surrounded by evil people. Gatete lived with the most peaceful people on earth.

Rumours had it that Gatete even hated himself. It is said that he never appreciated any thing good. His neighbours feared him because of his insults. Gatete would insult his neighbours using words that even the devil would not dare use.

On the contrary, his wife Uwamahoro was a very patient woman. She tried every time to make peace between her husband and the neighbours. Unfortunately, she did not succeed.

One day, Gatete attacked a neighbour and seriously injured him. When the news reached other neighbours, they took up arms against Gatete. Some wanted to lynch him. It was at that time that Uwamahoro appeared, crying and pleading for her husband. Her cry moved the mob.

A voice of reason said, “Take him to the police. There is no need of lynching him when we have competent judges to handle his case.”

“Yes! Yes!” Some voices supported.

Finally, Gatete was handed to the police who eventually took him to court.

Explain why Gatete was never liked by his neighbours.

The story above can help us to understand the meanings of conflict and violence. It clearly shows that conflict refers to a fight, struggle or direct opposition. It may also refer to disagreement or the general pattern of groups dealing with disparate ideas.

Violence is a behaviour or treatment in which physical force is exerted. The force is exerted with the purpose of causing damage, injury or even death to the victim(s). Violence takes many forms, some of them being:

(i)  Physical violence

(ii) Sexual violence

(iii) Emotional violence

(iv) violence

(v) Structural violence

Conflict and violence are all together a public disorder that affect our societies both locally and internationally. For example, the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi led to the killing of more than one million people. The killing happened within 100 days. This brought suffering and misery in Rwanda, socially, economically and politically.

 Forms of conflict and violence

 Activity 13.2

Write down examples of conflict and violence that you have witnessed.

There are various forms of conflict and violence that people go through. Some people are beaten or hit by objects in order to harm them. Some are left to suffer in the cold or exposed to extreme temperatures. This is called physical violence.

In some cases, people go to war to fight against people they perceive as enemies. The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi saw some people carrying weapons. They used the weapons to attack others. This is an example of armed conflict. This form of conflict mainly inflicts physical injury or even death to the victims.

There are people who defile children. Some rape women or touch them in an indecent manner. Others force people to watch pornographic materials. This is known as sexual violence.

Sometimes a conflict involves the use of an abusive language. It is normally characterised by behaviour such as name calling, anger and jealousy. This type of conflict affects others emotionally and psychologically. That is why it is called emotional or psychological conflict/violence. 

Causes of conflict and violence

Activity 13.3

 Refer to the examples you gave in Activity 13.2.

State what caused them.

It is clear that there cannot be a conflict without its cause. Your answers to Activity 13.3 prove this. The following are some of the causes of conflict and violence.

(i) Inequality: It is inequality between groups rather than individuals that increase the prospects of violent conflicts. Where the society is divided into two predominant groups, growing inequality between them leads to conflicts.

(ii) State collapse: Collapse is rarely sudden. It takes a long process that is characterised by a corrupt government.

(iii) Economic decline and economic shock: Continuous economic decline plays a major part in state collapse and conflict. For example, hyper inflation may lead to violence and the overthrow of the government.

(iv) History: Many conflicts occur where there is a tradition of resolving problems by violent means. Political violence is entrenched and the instruments of the state such as the army, the police and the judiciary sustain the process.

(v)               Scarcity of resources: There is likely to be conflict where people struggle for the few natural resources. For example, pastoralist communities sometimes engage in conflicts because of grazing areas.

(vi)             Unemployment and illiteracy: Countries with high level of unemployment among the youth face a higher risk of conflicts. The situation is the same where male or female education levels are different.

(vii) The abuse of ethnicity: Negative political remarks based on ethnicity promote ethnic hatred. 

(viii) Availability of arms: Availability of small arms is a major factor in sustaining and fuelling conflicts.

(ix) The conflict cycle: The greatest risks occur when a fragile peace is not properly consolidated.  A non resolved conflict keeps on rotating.

(x)  Inadequate and inappropriate mediation: If the conflict is not properly resolved through mediation it can reoccur. Consequences of conflict and violence

Activity 13.4

 Refer to Activity 13.1.

In few words, describe how Gatete’s habit affected his family and the general community.

The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a clear indication that conflicts have consequences. The following are consequences of conflict and violence:

(i) Loss of human lives and civilian causalities: Hundreds and thousands of human lives are lost in conflicts. Some people have become physically handicapped.

(ii) Displacement: A lot of people have become internally displaced while others have become refugees. 

(iii) Degradation of vulnerable groups:  People such as children are denied their rights to a living since they cannot support themselves.

(iv) Sexual harassment: Girl children and vulnerable mothers, especially in war torn areas, always face sexual harassment.

(v) Child soldier: Children are deliberately indoctrinated into a culture of violence and used as specific instruments of war.

(vi) Target of Civilians: They end up being the targets of the conflicts to achieve endless goals of perpetrators.

(vii) Famine: War denies people access to their land at critical growing or planting periods. This always leads to famine.

(viii) Destruction of infrastructure: War seriously damages infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, airports, electricity and water supply.

(ix) Effects on services: Schools and health centres are increasingly the targets of military activity. It leads a large number of young uneducated persons.

(x)  Poor governance and investment: Conflict and violence change the quality of governance. This lead to poor governance resulting into the economic losses.

(xi) Debt burden: Conflict also contributes to unsustainable debt to the government. The whole burden shifts to the citizens to pay recurring debt for years.

(xii)  Regional and economic impact:  The effects of conflict and violence are rarely confined to one country. It extends to the whole region.

(xiii)  International impact: Conflict has a major effect on the environment through uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources. It leads to the other evils such as money laundering and drugs smuggling.

(xiv) Separation of families: Conflict and violence bring separation in families.

(xv) Psychological trauma: This occurs in many people as a result of conflicts and violence. For example, the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi left many people traumatised.

Fig. 13.2: People migrating due to conflict

Conflict transformation

Activity 13.5

Discuss how you settle misunderstandings amongst your fellow students.

An effective response to conflict requires agreement on and understanding of its causes. It is possible to know the root causes of conflict and violence. It is also important to understand the secondary causes that sustain conflicts.

The following strategies can be employed to transform conflict and violence:

· Inclusive government: Conflict prevention will be effective if it is based on own experience. It should also be based on the capacity to respond to a crisis.

· Restoring the legitimacy of the state: This is done through great commitment to re-establishing and delivering basic services. This demonstrates the value of national government.

· Dealing with impunity: There is need for unity and reconciliation.

·Peacekeeping and peace enforcement: This attracts widespread international interest to provide support and training.

· Dealing with small arms proliferation and control of light weapons:  There should be action against illegal transfer and transport of arms. There should be international support for the disposal and destruction of weapons surplus to national security needs.

· Commitment and support to addressing conflict: There should be a long term commitment and comprehensive framework to address conflict.

· Amicable settlement: It is when two conflicting sides decide to solve their conflicts without calling a third party.

Other strategies of conflict transformation include the following:

(i)  Regional and economic integration and mutual security

(ii)  Local mediation and peace building activities for the civil societies and religious leadership

(iii) Making stringent laws against conflicts and violence (iv) Encouraging social justice national wide

(iv)  Settling conflict outside courts of law between two or agents of conflicting sides. A settlement contract is usually signed to adhere.

Important!

Conflict and violence can also be managed through international criminal courts. For example, the International Criminal Court in the Hague-Netherlands. It tries war crimes, genocide crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression. This can make an impact on the reduction of crimes, conflicts and violence in various parts of the world.

Revision questions

1. Explain what is meant by ‘conflict’ and ‘violence’.

2. State some forms of violence and conflict in different societies today.

3. Discuss the causes of conflict and violence today.

4. Explain the impact of conflict and violence on the society.

5. Explain how conflict and violence can be resolved