Author Question: Give an account of how an ongoing civil war can create opportunities for genocide. What will be ... (Read 58 times)

meagbuch · **on:** Jul 8, 2018

Give an account of how an ongoing civil war can create opportunities for genocide.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Draw a contrast between what types of targets are attacked by insurgents in civil wars and in suicide terrorism.

What will be an ideal response?

Bison · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 8, 2018

Answer to Question 1

An ongoing civil war creates the conditions for ethnic differences to degenerate
into genocide. In the midst of war, law and order evaporate, while fear and uncertainty
contribute to the escalation of violence. Those who participate in killing pressure others
to kill; conformity is rewarded, while refusal to participate is punished, often with death.

Answer to Question 2

Civil wars are likelier in poor countries with weak states and rough terrain. The
absence of state authority gives insurgents opportunities to hide, build up their
organizations, and win support. In a sense, civil wars are more likely against soft
targetsweak and vulnerable states. However, the conditions that create
opportunities for civil war are unlikely to give insurgents reason to use suicide terrorism.
Instead, insurgents tend to employ suicide terrorism only against hard targets
wealthier, stronger states with accessible terrain. The reason is straightforward: other
military tactics have proven ineffective. Suicide terrorism is a weapon of last resort,
used when other opportunities do not exist.