n Conflict Trends - Editorial

Abstract

Intra-state conflicts have been the predominant type of conflict in the recent years with a combination of "identity" and "distribution" being the key powerful elements. Imbalances in the distribution of economic, political and social resources coupled with the mobilisation of groups around commonalities and sometimes differences of language, race, and religion, readily increases the potential for conflict. The persistence of this type of conflict on the African continent has created more avenues for opportunistic leaders and has increased the difficulty in attempting to manage these conflicts.