Self-government and identity issues, rather than struggles for power or for control of natural resources, remain the major causes of conflicts in Europe. According to two documents released today by the Escola de Cultura de Pau (ECP, School of Peace Culture), Alerta 2008! [pdf] and Anuario 2008 de procesos de paz [pdf], 11 of the 100 conflicts currently taking place around the world (30 armed conflicts and 70 non-violent conflicts) are occurring in Europe.

There are considerably fewer conflicts taking place in Europe than in Africa or Asia and the reasons behind the conflicts also differ: today’s European conflicts tend to be associated with issues of sovereignty and collective identity. ECP includes Russia and Chechnya on the list of armed conflicts and draws attention to the regionalization of violence towards neighbouring republics and the criticism the pro-Kremlin Chechen administration has received from human rights groups. The other armed conflict in Europe listed by ECP is that between Turkey and the PKK. Violence escalated in 2007 when the Turkish army, with endorsement from the Turkish Parliament, stepped up its offensive against the militant Kurdish organization.

ECP lists nine cases of non-violent conflicts in Europe, in the Caucasus (Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the republics of North Caucasus), the Balkans (Kosovo and Serbia, Macedonia), Cyprus, Belorus and Transnistria.

Five of these began a definitive peace process in 2007, namely Armenia and Azerbaijan (over Nagorno-Karabakh), Cyprus, Georgia (over Abkhazia and South Ossetia), Kosovo and Turkey (over PKK).

Finally, Northern Ireland is the most encouraging European case cited by ECP: the Northern Ireland peace process came to an end last year. ECP highlights the concessions made by both sides in order to find a lasting resolution to the conflict.

A global thermometer and a future perspective
Obviously, the scope of the work published by ECP is too large to be reviewed in detail here. Both documents provide extensive information on conflicts, classified by region (Africa, Asia, America, Europe and the Middle East) and also by subject (armed conflicts, peace processes, post-war rehabilitation, humanitarian crisis, disarmament, human rights and justice, and gender perspective). One of the positive observations made by ECP is that negotiations are currently underway to solve approximately three quarters of the world’s conflicts.

Alerta 2008! highlights eight “peace opportunities for 2008”, or eight areas where conflicts could be resolved this year. ECP makes this optimistic prediction for three conflicts in Africa and three in Asia and also includes two more general items on the list, namely the international ban on cluster bombs that is expected to be agreed later this year, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which could have a major impact on conflict resolution.

Further information:

• ECP: Alerta 2008! [pdf] i Anuario 2008 de los procesos de paz [pdf]
• Canal Solidario: La Escola de Cultura de Pau alerta sobre cien zonas de conflictos y tensiones en el mundo