What is war?

War is an armed conflict that transpires between two or more groups. War
has existed since at least the beginning of recorded history, nearly 5000
years ago. Whenever leaders of nations cannot come to a peaceful
negotiation to solve a dispute, other avenues are taken. Unfortunately,
these different avenues often result in violent hostilities called war, where
leaders pit their mercenaries or militaries against each other in clashes that
can cost thousands or even millions of lives.

Causes of war
There is rarely one single, clear cause of conflict and, ultimately war. The
causes of a war are usually numerous and can be often be intertwined in a
complicated way. Many theories have been put forth over the years as to
why wars happen, and some of the greatest minds have offered their take
on the subject. According to them, there are 8 main causes of war:
➢ Economic Gain
➢ Territorial Gain
➢ Religion
➢ Nationalism
➢ Revenge
➢ Civil war
➢ Revolutionary war
➢ Defensive War

1.Economic Gain
Often wars are caused by one country’s wish to take control of another
country’s wealth. Historical examples of war fought for economic gain are:
▪ Anglo-Indian wars(1766-1849)
▪ Opium wars(1839-1860)
▪ Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931-1932)
2. Territorial Gain
A country might decide that it needs more land, either for living space,
agricultural use, or other purposes. Territory can also be used as “buffer
zones” between two hostile enemies. Historical examples are:
▪ Roman conquest of Britain(Beginning AD 43)
▪ Mexican – American War(1846-1848)
▪ Serbo-Bulgarian War(1885-1886)

3. Religion
While different religions fighting against each other can be a cause of war,
different sects within a religion(for example Protestant and Catholic)
battling against each other can also instigate war. Historical examples are:
▪ The Crusades in the Holy land(1095-1291)
▪ Greek War of Independence(1821-1829)
▪ Lebanese Civil War(1975-1990)

4. Nationalism
Nationalism in this context essentially means attempting to prove that your
country is superior to another by violent subjugation. Related to nationalism
is imperialism, which is built on the idea that conquering other countries is
glorious and brings honor and esteem to the conqueror. Racism can also
be linked to nationalism, as can be seen in Hitler’s Germany. Adolf Hitler
went to war with Russia partly because the Russians were seen as Slavs,
who the Nazis believed to be an inferior race. Examples of war:
Yugoslav Wars(1991-2001)
World War l(1914-1918)
Italo-Ethiopian War(1935-36)

5.Revenge
Historically, revenge has been a factor in many European Wars. Examples
are:
▪ The Boudican Revolt
▪ World War ll(1939-1945)
▪ War in Afghanistan(2001-2021)

6. Civil War
These generally take place when there is a sharp internal disagreement
within a country. Civil wars can also be sparked by separatist groups who
want to form their own independent country. Examples of civil wars are:
▪ American Civil War (1861-1865)
▪ Russian Civil War (1972-1923)
▪ Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

7. Revolutionary War
This occur when a large section of the population of a country revolts
against the individual or group that rules the country because they are
dissatisfied with their leadership. Examples are:
▪ American Revolution (1775-1783)
▪ French Revolution (1789-1799)
▪ Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)

8. Defensive War
In the modern world, where military aggression is more widely questioned,
countries will often argue that they are fighting to defend themselves
against an aggressor or potential aggressor. Examples are:
▪ Gallic Wars (58-50 BC)
▪ Iraqi Conflict (2003-2011)
▪ Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022)- In February 2022, Russian
troops invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of a conflict that had
begun in 2014. Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin argued that the military
action was defensive in nature, with the aim being to demiliarise
Ukraine, stop the further expansion of NATO, and prevent an attack
on Russia. These claims have been widely disputed.
Slide 1 ; introductory video on impact on population –

As it has been illustrated in the above video war has a

profound effect on the population of war ravaged zones for it
destroys families and communities plunging humanity in
doom.

Slide 2 ; mind map of the impact on population –

The first record of war in human history took place about

four thousand Seven hundred years ago . Since then war
has been perpetuating in numerous parts of the world , with
adverse devastating consequences on humanity in general.
Slide 3 – 9 ; Approximate figures of death troll-

When talking about war , the first thing that comes into our
mind is the Death trolls and the number of broken families
that are without any fault in misery.

The following slides are statistics of modern day wars with

greater than twenty five thousand deaths.
Although the “ our world in data “ site has stated that the
number of war death has been declining since 1946, in the
post – war era, about half a million people died through
direct violence in wars.
The categories of people killed in the wars range from
civilian children, to combatants, to aid workers and
journalists.
The direct effects include the hundreds of thousands of
people who have been killed and injured due to the fighting
—killed by bombs, bullets, and fire while there are also
people who have been indirectly harmed in the region during
the wars —by the lack of food, medical infrastructure,
sanitation, and the stresses of displacement which may have
exacerbated pre-existing medical conditions. These are
called excess deaths.
 Although it is difficult to estimate with precision, indirect
deaths tend to outnumber direct deaths in war. This is
particularly true where conflicts lead to famine or outbreaks
of disease among the civilian population. Historically, such
indirect deaths were also a major cause of military fatalities.
Slide 10 : Displaced people due to forced migration-
During times of war, many people migrate out of necessity
leaving all of their possessions in the process. Moreover,
they may even get seperated from the families in this ordeal
towards security. According to UNHCR, the number of
globally forcibly displaced people worldwide was 79.5 million
at the end of 2019. Around 76% of refugees are displaced for
more than five years in countries where they face cultural,
social and economic discontinuity.
More recently, the war in Ukraine has caused the fastest-
growing refugee crisis in Europe since the end of World War
II. The hardships they endure through their displacement
make these people vulnerable. They lose assets and
livelihoods and are unable to plan their future. Many suffer
from trauma, and women and girls are at high risk of
gender-based violence.
In addition, host communities need support too as
accommodating the sudden arrival of masses of newcomers
presents a challenge for host governments, putting further
pressure on their ability to deliver basic services and
infrastructures, migrants increasing the population size .

Moreover forced migration may negatively affects the

population of the other countries by :
• causing deteriorations in the salary structures of the
informal, rural, and urban sectors of the economy.
• leading to loss of customs and traditions by the local
population .
• creating social problems.
Slide 11 : long term disabilities caused by war-

All sites related to war and military action have disability

history, since war inevitably means some soldiers will come
home with short-term or long-lasting disabilities.

During the Civil War, hundreds of thousands of soldiers

were wounded in the battle. As in the 1860s, many surgical
procedures or antibiotics were not yet available,
amputations were often the only option.
Fournutately, injured veterans had several recovery options
after leaving the battlefield.
For example, established in the 1830s, the United States
Naval Asylum in Philadelphia provided for “disabled and
decrepit Navy officers, officers, seamen, and marines.
In 1852, Congress approved of the Governor’s Hospital for
the Insane (later renamed St. Elizabeths Hospital). This
hospital cared specifically for veterans suffering from
emotional disorders. St. Elizabeths overflowed with injured
soldiers in the Civil War and World Wars I and 11

According to the Veterans Administration (VA), the most

common disabling conditions linked to past or present
military service include:

• Hearing loss
• Loss in range of motion.
 • Traumatic brain injuries

Slide 12 ; war related illnesses -

One in five (22%) people who have experienced war in the

previous 10 years, will have depression, anxiety, post-
traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
In applying these estimates to Ukraine, WHO expects that
approximately 9.6 million people in Ukraine may have a
mental health condition.
Moreover, the impacts of war on health are strongly
gendered. While men are traditionally more likely to die or
become injured in battle, women are more likely to be left to
face the lasting consequences of conflict on health.
Children born during conflict are at a higher risk of being of
a low birth weight, which is associated with an increased risk
of infant mortality, poorer health in later life, and childhood
developmental problems. Additionally, vaccination programs
are limited during times of armed conflict which can
significantly increase a child’s chances of contracting what
are now largely preventable diseases.
Slide 13 ; introductory video on impact on the economy .
 Putting aside the very real human cost, war has also
serious economic costs.
The economic costs are numerous and both of a direct as
well as an indirect nature, ranging from damage to
infrastructure resulting in colossal rebuilding costs ,to a
decline in the working population, inflation, shortages,
uncertainty, a rise in debt and to the disruption of normal
economic activities.

Wars do not only affect the economies that are actually

engaged in armed conflicts for they also have wider spillover
effects on the internationally economic prosperity.

However, from some perspectives, war can appear to be

beneficial for countries not at war. For example the war in
Ukraine may create long term growth opportunities for gas-
rich African countries.

Slide 14 : The oil price effects-

War can often lead to higher prices of oil. For example, the
Gulf war of 1990 led to rising oil prices. Prices then rose
from $21 a barrel in July to a post-invasion peak of $46 in
Mid October.

The EU ban on seaborne imports of Russian crude oil

entered into force on 5 December 2022, followed by the
embargo on refined oil products as of 5 February 2023 in
response to Russia‘s continuing war of aggression on
Ukraine. In tandem with the EU embargoes, the G7, the EU
and partner countries have also prohibited the provision of
maritime services for Russian crude oil shipments and for
Russian oil products. This led to an increase in the price of
Brent oil by 25% since the onset of the war, Russia being
the 3rd largest oil producer.
However , oil-producing producing countries such as
Angola, Nigeria, South Sudan, Congo, and Gabon stand to
benefit from increased demand and higher global oil prices,
as European countries search for alternative energy sources.
This could have a positive effect on their growth prospects,
fiscal balances, current account positions, and reserves.
Slide 15 ; war and National debt –

During war a rapid rise in public sector debt can be noted as

governments are willing to borrow a lot more than usual
because there is patriotic support for the war effort.

Both the First and Second World Wars were very costly for
the UK. In both cases, the national debt rose very sharply. In
the post-war period, debt continued to rise due to
reconstruction and the creation of the welfare state.

UK national debt rose to 150% at the end of World War Two

– but then rose to 240% by the early 1950s.The UK thus
relied on loans from the US during the Second World War
and took many decades to pay them off.

More recently, according to the National Bank Of Ukraine,

the external dabt in Ukraine increased to 131998 USD Million
in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 124239 USD Million in the
third quarter of 2022.

Ukraine total gross external debt.

Slide 16 ; mind map on the impact on the economy.
 Impact of war on living standard

War destroys communities and families and often disrupts the development of the social and economic
fabric of nations. The effects of war include long-term physical and psychological harm to children and
adults, as well as reduction in material and human capital.A war is always a human tragedy, and the war
in Ukraine is no exception. The ripple effects of the conflict are extending human suffering far beyond its
borders. The war, in all its dimensions, has exacerbated a global cost-of-living crisis unseen in at least a
generation, compromising lives, livelihoods, and our aspirations for a better world by 2030

Worldwide effect of war

After two years of fighting COVID-19, the world Economy has been left in a fragile state. Today, 60 per
cent of workers have lower real incomes Than before the pandemic; 60 per cent of the Poorest
countries are in debt distress or at high risk of it; developing countries miss $1.2 trillion Per year to fill
the social protection gap, and $4.3 trillion is needed per year – more money Than ever before – to meet
the to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ability of countries and people to deal with
adversity has therefore also been eroding. As the war erupted, global average growth prospects have
been revised downward; many countries’ fiscal balances have deteriorated, and the average household
has lost 1.5 per cent in real iincome due to price increases in corn and wheat alone. Worldwide, more
people have been facing famine-like conditions, and more people have faced severe hunger
emergencies.

The lingering effects of the pandemic, coupled with the war in Ukraine and the impacts of climate
change, are likely to further increase again the ranks oDevelopment Goals (SDGs). The ability of
countries and people to deal with adversity has therefore also been eroding. As the war erupted, global
average growth prospects have been revised downward; many countries’ fiscal balances have
deteriorated, and the average household has lost 1.5 per cent in real income due to price increases in
corn and wheat alone. Worldwide, more people have been facing famine-like conditions, and more
people have faced severe hunger emergencies. The lingering effects of the pandemic, coupled with the
war in Ukraine and the impacts of climate change, are likely to further increase again the ranks of the
Poor. And as poverty increases so does vulnerableBility, particularly for women and girls. Countries and
people with limited capacity To cope are the most affected by the ongoing

Cost-of-living crisis. Three main transmission Channels generate these effects: rising food Prices, rising
energy prices, and tightening Financial conditions. Each of these elements.Can have important effects
on its own, but they Can also feed into each other creating vicious Cycles – something that unfortunately
is already Starting. For instance, high fuel and fertilizer Prices increase farmers’ production costs, which
May result in higher food prices and lower farm Yields. This can squeeze household finances, Raise
poverty, erode living standards, and fuel Social instability. Higher prices then increase Pressure to raise
interest rates, which increase The cost of borrowing of developing countries While devaluing their
currencies, thus making Food and energy imports even more expensive, Restarting the cycle. These
dynamics haveDramatic implications for social cohesion, finanCial systems and global peace and
security.Food should never be a luxury; it is a funda-Mental human right. And yet, this crisis
maymaRapidly turn into a food catastrophe of global proportions.

This catastrophe has been years in the makingBut since the war it has become unbearable for Many
countries. In 2022, between 179 million and 181 million people are forecasted to be crisis or worse
conditions in 41 out of 53 Countries where data are available1. In addition 19 million more people are
expected to face Chronic undernourishment globally in 2023, if The reduction in food exports from the
Russian Federation and Ukraine result in lower food Availability worldwide2. Record high food prices,
Exchange rate devaluation and inflationary pres-Sures are key factors. While the FAO food price Index
had reached a record high in February 2022 before the war started, since then it has had Some of the
largest one-month iIn recent days, schools in Ukraine have understandably shut down, leaving 350,000
students without a formal education. As the fighting continues, children are becoming deeply
traumatized and even orphaned. Helping children overcome this trauma will require intensive support,
care, and resources — things that are often absent in conflict zones. This is how today’s war bleeds into
the future: Family members and friends die, loved ones get uprooted and displaced, communities
rupture and disintegrate, and entire towns and cities become husks.ncreases in its History, with its
record high in March 2022.

And Yet, despite a very challenging situation today, Some factors suggest the food security situation
May get much worse still in coming seasons.Higher energy costs, trade restrictions and a loss Of
fertilizer supply from the Russian Federation And Belarus have led to fertilizer prices rising Even faster
than food prices. Many farmers, and Especially smallholders, are thus squeezed to Reduce production,
as the fertilizers they need Become more expensive than the grains they sell. Critically, new fertilizer
plants take at least two Years to become operational, meaning that most Of the current supply of
fertilizers is limited. Because of this key fertilizer issue, global food Production in 2023 may not be able
to meet rising Demand. Rice, a major staple which up to now Has low prices because of good supplies,
and is The most consumed staple in the world, could Be significantly affected by this phenomenon
becoime is short to prevent a food crisis in 2023 In which we will have both a problem of food Access
and food availability. If the war continues And high prices of grain and fertilizers persist Into the next
planting season, food availability Will be reduced at the worst possible time, and The present crisis in
corn, wheat and vegetable Oil could extend to other staples, affecting Billions more people.Export
restrictions on food and fertilizers have Surged since the start of the war
. The scale of Current restrictions has now surpassed that experienced during the food price crisis
in2007/08,Which contributed to 40 per cent of the increase In agricultural prices. Trade restrictions
today Affect almost one fifth of total calories traded Globally, which further aggravates the crisis. All
Food crises are distributional in nature. This one Is no different. Export restrictions prevent the Trade
needed to bring essential food supplies and Fertilizers to where they are most required.In one way or
another, everyone is exposed to The shock waves of the war. The level of exposure Of a country and its
ability to deal with the shock Determine a country’s vulnerability. And this Is a challenge in the
developing world. The UN Global Crisis Response Group, together with the United Nations Regional
Economic Commissions, Undertook a global vulnerability assessment On the capacity of countries to
cope with each Of the channels of transmission and the vicious Cycles they can create. The results
confirm a Widespread picture of vulnerability: 94 countries,Home to around 1.6 billion people, are
severelyExposed to at least one dimension of the crisis And unable to cope with it. Out of the 1.6 billion,
1.2 billion or three quarters live in ‘perfect-storm’ Countries, meaning countries that are severely
Exposed and vulnerable to all three dimensions Of finance, food, and energy, simultaneously.

This vulnerability of Governments and people can take the form of squeezed national and household
budgets which force them into difficult and painful trade-offs. If social protection systems and safety
nets are not adequately extended, poor families in developing countries facing hunger may reduce
health-related spending; children who temporarily left school due to COVID-19 may now be
permanently out of the education system; or smallholder or micro-entrepreneurs may close shop due to
higher energy bills. Meanwhile countries, unless a multilateral effort is undertaken to address potential
liquidity pressures and increase fiscal space, will struggle to pay their food and energy bills while
servicing their debt, and increase spending in social protection as needed.
Impact on the living standard of Ukraine
GENEVA (21 February 2023) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today deplored the
human cost of the war in Ukraine that has left at least 8,006 civilians dead and 13,287 injured over the
past 12 months, in addition to the numerous lives previously lost in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

“These numbers, which we are publishing today, lay bare the loss and suffering inflicted on people since
Russia’s armed attack began on 24 February last year; suffering I saw for myself first hand when I visited
Ukraine in December. And our data are only the tip of the iceberg. The toll on civilians is unbearable.
Amid electricity and water shortages during the cold winter months, nearly 18 million people are in dire
need of humanitarian assistance. Some 14 million people have been displaced from their homes,” Türk
said.

“The very young to the very old have all been affected. Students have seen their education halted or
disrupted by attacks on educational facilities, while older people and people with disabilities have faced
immense challenges, in some cases unable to reach bomb shelters or having to spend prolonged periods
in basements in conditions affecting their health,” the UN Human Rights Chief said. Most of those
remaining in conflict-affected areas are older people, who are often reluctant or unable to leave
dangerous areas.

“Every day that violations of international human rights and humanitarian law continue, it becomes
harder and harder to find a way forward through mounting suffering and destruction, towards peace,”
Türk stressed.

According to the UN Human Rights Office’s monitoring mission in Ukraine, of the adult civilian casualties
whose sex was known, men accounted for 61.1 per cent of civilian casualties and women for 39.9 per
cent. At least 487 children were killed and 954 injured.

Some 90.3 per cent of civilian casualties were caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects,
including artillery shells, cruise and ballistic missiles, and air strikes. Most occurred in populated areas.
The Office has also recorded 632 civilian casualties – 219 killed and 413 injured – caused by mines and
explosive remnants of war.

The Office’s presence on the ground, which has been monitoring civilian casualties in Ukraine since
2014, has stressed that the actual figures are likely substantially higher, as its numbers only reflect
verified individual cases.

The monitoring mission has received information regarding 21 civilian casualties – six killed and 15
injured – in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, occupied by
the Russian Federation. Many reports of civilian casualties are still pending corroboration in other
occupied areas of Ukraine, notably in locations such as Mariupol (Donetsk region) and Lysychansk,
Popasna, and Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk region).

In addition, the Office has information regarding 160 civilian casualties – 30 killed and 130 injured – in
the territory of the Russian Federation. Given the lack of corroborating information to date, these
figures have not been included in the total numbers.
 Impact Of War On Poverty
How war fuel poverty

• War disrupts food systems by undermining food production, causing rapid inflation of food
prices, and preventing people from earning money to buy food

• War destroys key infrastructure that supports daily life, from water systems to energy centers to
hospitals.
 • War displaces people from their homes, forces children from the classroom, worsens gender
inequality, and exposes people to extreme levels of violence.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought a new war into existence, a grim turn of events that
promises brutal consequences.As the United Nations has noted, the first priority for everyone involved
should be to end the conflict. The longer the violence continues, the more people will suffer and die —
peace is the only legitimate option. But even if the bombs and bullets stopped right away, it would take
years to recover from the devastation. That’s because war seeks to shatter the foundation of a society,
fragmenting communities, destroying infrastructure, and undermining the economy and provision of
social services.

From a purely economic point of view, war fuels poverty because of how it disrupts livelihoods and
access to money. The Institute for Economics & Peace found that the 10 most conflict-affected countries
lost, on average, 41% of their economic output as a result of violence. But if we broaden the definition
of poverty to include the basic necessities of life, then nothing fuels poverty quite like war, which is
catastrophic to human well-being.

The months and years ahead will involve grinding poverty in Ukraine and even Russia, which has faced
extreme economic repercussions as a result of President Vladimir Putin’s actions. Hints at what the
future holds can be seen in countries like Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan, where the pressures
of conflict have made daily life a struggle for survival.
How Does War Fuel Poverty and Its Systemic Causes?

There are 27 active conflicts around the world, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Some of
these conflicts have been going on for decades, others for only a few years. In all cases, the results have
been disastrous. In Yemen, years of civil war and Saudi-led bombing campaigns have created the world’s
worst humanitarian crisis. More than 21 million people in the country, including 11 million children,
need urgent humanitarian aid. Roughly 16.2 million people struggle to get even the barest amount of
food needed to survive. Public health crises from the COVID-19 pandemic to cholera outbreaks have
overwhelmed the country’s understaffed and under-resourced health system. Humanitarian groups are
drilling new wells to ensure people have enough water to live.

Ten years of war in Syria have left more than 350,000 people dead and generated 6.6 million refugees
and 6.4 million internally displaced persons. For millions of children, formal education has become
impossible or a stressful experience. Hundreds of schools have been bombed, and many others lack
adequate sanitation, heating and ventilation, and electricity, not to mention too few teachers.

The ongoing civil war in Ethiopia has caused famine-like conditions for 400,000 people, disrupted the
supply of 80% of essential medication, and pushed more than 2 million people from their homes,
according to the BBC.

The recent takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban after 20 years of US-led conflict has cratered the
country’s economy, so much so that some people are selling their organs to afford bread. Women’s
rights, after improving for several years, have been drastically curtailed.There are countless local and
geopolitical factors at play in every conflict that make them unique. For example, harsh sanctions —
which can devastate local communities — have exacerbated poverty in Afghanistan, as humanitarian
organizations call on the US to resume international aid and allow the country’s people to access
financial resources.

But there are broad trends that exist in numerous contexts. For example, violence against women
surges during conflicts. As legal systems break down, women face domestic violence at home. When
invading armies enter a community, sexual violence is often wielded as a cruel weapon.

Governments often lose the ability to provide basic social services like garbage collection, well-funded
schools, and income assistance. War also ravages the integrity of environments, as modern weapons
pollute the air, soil, and bodies of water, and destroy ecosystems.

After any disaster, inequality tends to worsen as the rich and well-connected take advantage of vacuums
of power in governance, industry, and resources for their own gain. And the violence and mayhem of
war inevitably leads to extreme levels of displacement.
 Poverty in ukraine increasing due to war

In Ukraine, the outline of how the war will fuel poverty is already apparent. In less than two weeks, 2
million refugees have fled the country, an exodus that could deplete the country’s workforce for years
to come, and deprive families of primary sources of income. The economy has largely come to a
standstill, with only the most essential sectors operating, as all attention is directed toward defending
communities and surviving. This economic suspension is reverberating around the world as energy
prices climb and food systems brace for shortages of key staples like wheat and corn.

Conflict is the No. 1 driver of food shortages, according to the World Food Programme, which has been
providing food assistance to more than 1 million people in the eastern part of Ukraine since the
country’s uprising in 2014. In the country’s capital, food and water shortages have already been
reported, the WFP notes.

As bombs fall on Ukraine, key pieces of infrastructure — roads, hospitals, bridges, irrigation systems,
energy storage centers, and residential buildings — are being destroyed. Rebuilding in the aftermath of
the conflict will consume huge sums of money, likely dominating Ukraine’s budget.7While violence is
the most immediate threat to public health in conflict zones, the possibility of disease outbreaks
increases, and ordinary illnesses are more likely to turn deadly. That’s because health centers tend to
focus on treating the war-wounded, people may avoid hospitals for fear of violence, health care workers
often become overworked, facilities could lose electricity or encounter attacks, and resources could
become scarce. Oxygen tanks, for example, are on the brink of running out in the country.

In recent days, schools in Ukraine have understandably shut down, leaving 350,000 students without a
formal education. As the fighting continues, children are becoming deeply traumatized and even
orphaned. Helping children overcome this trauma will require intensive support, care, and resources —
things that are often absent in conflict zones.

This is how today’s war bleeds into the future: Family members and friends die, loved ones get uprooted
and displaced, communities rupture and disintegrate, and entire towns and cities become husks.
 TERRORISM

Definition of terrorism:

It is defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation,especially against civilians,in the pursuit of
political aims.

Who are the responsible for terrorism?

• The internet and social media:International and domestic violent extremists have developed an
extensive presence on the internet through messaging, platforms and online images,videos and
publications. .Social media has also allowed both international and domestic terrorists to gain
unprecedented,virtual access to people living in the United States in an effort to enable
homeland attacks .
• Revolutionaries:Revolutionary terrorism is a rational method of action,employing acts of of
extraordinary violence against selected physical victims,deliberately creating a psychological
effect and thereby influencing political behaviour and attitudes.
• Nationalistic and religious groups
• State institutions such as armies

History of terrorism
Terror has been practiced by state and non-state actors throughout history and throughout the
world.

Here are some common cited past terrorist acts:

1. Bombing at la Plaza de Mayo

The Bombing of Plaza de Mayo was a massacre that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16
June 1955. Thirty aircrafts from the Argentine Navy and Air Force strafed Plaza de Mayo in the
largest aerial bombing ever on the Argentine mainland.
The attack targeted the adjacent Casa Rosada, the official seat of government, while a large
crowd of protestors gathered to demonstrate support for President Juan Perón.
The number of Identified bodies was put at 308, including six children; an unknown number of
victims could not be identified.

2.Explosion of air India flight 182

Air India Flight 182 was an Air India flight operating on the Montreal–London–Delhi–Bombay route.On
23 June 1985, it was operated using Boeing 747-237B registered VT-EFO. It disintegrated in mid-air en
route from Montreal to London, at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 m) over the Atlantic Ocean, as a
result of an explosion from a bomb planted by Canadian Sikh terrorists.The remnants of the airliner fell
into the ocean approximately 190 kilometres (120 miles) off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people
aboard, including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens, and 24 Indian citizens.
Terrorism has taken a toll on people’s lives and still,to this day has a major impact,psychologically as
well as physically.

Here is a review of the most recent terrorist acts:

1.Russian invasion of Ukraine:

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded and occupied parts of Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-
Ukrainian War, which had begun in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on
both sides, and instigated Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II.

2.Attempted suicide bombing

A suicide bomber approached the Russian embassy. The attacker was shot dead by security
forces, but his explosives went off after he was killed on the 5th September 2022.

3.Improvised explosive device bombing

During a speech by military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky in a café, an IED planted in a statuette gifted to him
exploded.
Solutions to counter
back war and terrorism