The Sources of Instability in the Twenty-First Century: Weak States, Armed Groups, and Irregular Conflict
Abstract
The world has changed! It has become more complex, with shadowy and seemingly unpredictable conflicts taking place around the globe. But there is a pattern to these fights. They are not unpredictable but discernable. The sources of instability in the twenty-first century's international security environment will largely result from a proliferation in the number of weak and failing states as well as powerful armed groups, some of which are able to affect fundamental security by causing major geopolitical damage in their own states, in various regions, or to the United States itself. Moreover, this proliferation creates new interactions and interrelationships between and among local, regional, and global players. These developments, in turn, are fostering the emergence of partnerships and coalitions comprised of armed groups, other nonstate actors, and authoritarian revisionist states. These formal and informal groupings employ an array of irregular violent and nonviolent means to extend their power and influence. A persistent and enduring pattern of irregular conflict is observable, and it will continue well into the twenty-first century. Faced with these security challenges, democratic states will likewise need to foster their own coalitions of both state and nonstate allies to oppose them. This article provides the broad contours of these developments through the lens of real-world cases.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA544392
Entities
People
- Querine Hanlon
- Richard Shultz
- Roy Godson
- Samantha Ravich
Organizations
- Air University