With the 27th edition of the Conflict Barometer, the HIIK continues its annual series of reports covering dynamics of political conflicts worldwide. 2018 was marked by an decreased number of wars but increased number of limited wars. Three limited wars intensified to full-scale wars in the Middle East Northern Africa (MENA) region, seeing escalations on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, in Syria’s Afrin region, and in the conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan’s Workers’ Party (PKK). In spite of these changes, many conflicts maintained their intensity, such as the wars in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Central African Republic, Somalia, and Nigeria, or, for instance, the limited wars in Brazil, Colombia, and the Philippines. As in previous years, violent intrastate crises such as the opposition conflicts in Venezuela or Nicaragua continued to represent the most common conflict type and shaped the global conflict landscape. Moreover, non-violent or medium intensity interstate conflicts, for instance between the EU, USA, et al. and Russia or between India and Pakistan, have also been a central determinant of 2018. Finally, peace initiatives, for instance between Greece and Macedonia, in Ethiopia, or in South Sudan, aimed to pave the way for more peaceful future relations.
In the Conflict Barometer app, information that was collected by the HIIK in 2018 can be readily accessed. Data on conflict intensity, start dates, conflict parties and conflict items can be found as well as detailed reports for many of the observed conflicts. Conflicts can be searched by title and a description of our methodology is included.