There are three ways to access ACR Conflict Descriptions

1. On the Publications search page
2. Through the interactive Armed Conflicts Report Map
3. By selecting a Conflict Description from the list below (organized by geographic area)

  How to read the ACR Conflict Descriptions

Conflict Descriptions organized by geographic area

How to read the ACR Conflict Descriptions

If you have minimal knowledge about a conflict, the Conflict Description will be easier to follow if you begin by reading the background section first, followed by the parties to the conflict section and then the summary.

Below are explanations of each section within the Conflict Description:

Time period covered
Summary
Type of conflict
Parties to the conflict
Status of the fighting
Number of deaths
Political developments
Background
Arms sources
Economic background
 

Time period covered

The Conflict Descriptions report on the most recent full calendar year. For example, Conflict Descriptions for the Armed Conflicts Report 2011 cover the period January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 unless important events or developments occurred in early January, in which case the report will also include information from the first month of 2011.

Summary

The first entry for each conflict provides an overall summary of the conflict: what has happened over the year, including the number of fatalities (or trends), plus any significant changes that have occurred in any of the sections.  (For example: a change in government or the emergence of a new rebel group.)

Type of conflict

Project Ploughshares categorizes each conflict using simple typology of modern intrastate armed conflict based on three overlapping types: state control, state formation and state failure. 

Parties to the conflict

This section typically lists two main areas:

The government and its allies

versus

The rebel factions

There may also be additional players participating in the conflict, such as regional or coalition forces (e.g. NATO in Afghanistan).

Status of the fighting

This section updates the various encounters during the year, who was involved and what the impact was in gains, loses, fatalities.

Number of Deaths

There are two parts to this section:

1. Total: refers to the total number of fatalities since the beginning of the conflict
2. Current year: covers only the death count for the year being documented

Political developments

Political developments refer primarily to developments that have made matters worse (a newly elected leader who is more militant) or more hopeful (peace efforts). Attempts at peace negotiations (e.g. UN or regional body efforts) are included even if they appear to be going nowhere.

Background

The background information provides a snapshot of events leading up to the time when Ploughshares began documenting the conflict.

Arms sources

This section provides information about who is selling arms to the government or where the non-state combatants are getting weapons.

Economic factors

Typical economic factors include general conditions such as poverty and marginalization and conflict over natural resources (diamonds, oil, timber, etc.). Not every conflict has an Economic Factors section.