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ARMED CONFLICT Since the end of the Cold War, conflicts between states have decreased dramatically. Intra-state war and armed conflicts, taking place within the borders of a state such as military coups have dominated the political scene and threatened individuals and the community with violence. The 2005 Human Security Report from the Human Security Centre asserts that the number of armed conflicts has dropped by 40 percent from 1992 to 2001¹. It also finds that fewer than five percent of wars take place between states, a 98 percent decline in the average number of persons killed in armed conflict since 1950 and a concentration of world conflict in the continent of Africa. At a general level, one can see a decline in the rate of conflict from the end of the Cold War to the beginning of the new millennium. According to the 2005 Human Security report, international terrorism prevails as the only form of armed conflict that is currently rising in frequency has and increased direct death tolls. Since the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. in 2001, we have seen an upturn in international terrorism used mainly for transmitting political messages. International terrorism represents a new dimension to armed conflicts around the world. It constitutes a new challenge, and poses great difficulties to combat due to the actor’s use of technology and the decentralized organization of terrorist groups. Current criminal networks are elastic in their form and have the ability to move quickly, transform and be administered from different locations. Proponents of modern warfare thus constitute a severe threat to human security. General Sir Rupert Smith, former deputy commander of NATO, coined the term “war amongst the people” in 2005. The term expresses a new paradigm in military engagements: “The reality in which the people in the streets and houses and fields – all the people, anywhere – are the battlefield. Military engagements can take place anywhere, with civilians around, against civilians, in defense of civilians. Civilians are the targets, objectives to be won, as much as an opposing force.” - General Sir Rupert Smith. Links: International Crisis Group: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home FRIDE – A European Think Tank for Global Action: http://www.fride.org/seccion/64/seguridad-y-conflicto HateBrakers: http://hatebrakers.com/ Book Recommendations: Smith, General Sir Rupert. The Utility of Force. The Art of War in the Modern World. London: Allen Lane, 2005. ¹ Human Security Centre. Press Release. (New York, October 17, 2005) http://www.humansecurityreport.info/press/Press_Release.pdf