Discussion Questions

Use the questions below to structure a discussion on the promise and peril of conflict and conflict resolution. We offer some suggested sources to complement your consideration of these important issues.

1) Asymmetrical violence (including terrorism) has historically accompanied eras of global economic expansion and rapid technological change. How might movements of goods, people, and money that fuel globalization also spark conflict? What steps can be taken to mitigate movements reactionary to the forces of globalization? How are economics likely to drive conflict in the future?

2) How would the global risk calculus of individuals, organizations, and governments shift if a weapon of mass destruction were detonated in a heavily populated city? The likelihood of such an event is high according to experts around the globe. Would such an event promote closer cooperation between countries in fighting the spread of WMD or would it drive countries further apart as they inoculate themselves against outside threats?

3) How does fighting a war against an ambiguous, stateless foe affect existing relations between countries? What are the keys to transforming military and constabulary forces so that they can guard against the threats of today and tomorrow? How many civil liberties will citizens exchange for an increased sense of security? What actions carried out by the state on their behalf will they tolerate? 

Bibliographic Materials from CSIS

The CSIS International Security Program tracks the major security concerns the United States faces today and in the future.

View the reports of the Strategic Assessment Project, prepared by Anthony H. Cordesman, Senior Fellow and the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at CSIS. The reports summarize the global military balance in graphic and tabular form. They are divided by region and sub-region, cover the trends in conventional forces, nuclear forces, proliferation, military effort and spending, procurement and arms import activity, force modernization, and force quality.

Visit the CSIS Transnational Threats Project to learn more about the breadth, depth, and impact of transnational threats that include crime, terrorism, information warfare, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The CSIS Homeland Security Program is focused on providing policy solutions to the U.S. government’s newest agency. The program sponsors a number of simulation exercises that help policymakers prepare for a variety of contingencies. 

Web Resources

The National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism located in Oklahoma City is dedicated to preventing terrorism and mitigating its effects. The Institute serves as a repository of knowledge for many different aspects of terrorism around the world.

The Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. Its reports and databases examine the role small arms play in conflict.

The Human Security Report examines political violence across the globe. The report was produced by the Human Security Center at The University of British Columbia.

The International Crisis Group is a non-governmental organization that is dedicated to monitoring regions of instability throughout the world. The ICG provides resources and background information on all current and potential conflicts worldwide.  

Further Reading

Abrahamsen, Rita, Collier, Paul, Dillon, Michael, Duffield, Mark, Hoeffler, Anke and Michael C. Williams. “The Globalization of Security”. Chatham House Briefing Paper, October 2005. http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/3281_bpsecurity2.pdf.

Barnett, Thomas P.M. 2004. The Pentagon’s New Map: War and Peace in the 21st Century. Putnam Books.