Insurgency, Counterinsurgency and Terrorism Introduction Insurgency, counterinsurgency and terrorism are related but distinct concepts within conflict and security studies. An insurgency is an organized campaign challenging established political authority. Counterinsurgency refers to the political, military, economic and social efforts undertaken to defeat or contain an insurgency. Terrorism is a method of political violence involving the…

Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Introduction Conflict prevention, conflict management and conflict resolution describe different approaches to dealing with disputes and violent conflicts. Conflict prevention seeks to prevent violence from occurring or escalating. Conflict management seeks to limit violence and control its consequences. Conflict resolution seeks to address underlying causes and relationships in ways that…

Peacekeeping, Peacemaking and Peacebuilding Introduction Peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding are related but distinct approaches to preventing violence, ending armed conflict and establishing sustainable peace. Peacekeeping generally seeks to maintain peace and prevent renewed violence after or during an agreement. Peacemaking focuses on diplomatic efforts to bring conflicting parties toward a settlement. Peacebuilding addresses the deeper…

Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Strategy Introduction Nuclear weapons and nuclear strategy occupy a central position in international security because of the extraordinary destructive capability of nuclear weapons and their implications for deterrence, strategic stability, arms control and international politics. Nuclear strategy concerns how states develop, deploy and communicate nuclear capabilities and how they seek to…

Interstate and Intrastate Conflict Introduction Interstate and intrastate conflict represent two broad categories of armed conflict classified according to where the principal parties to the conflict are located and who is fighting whom. Interstate conflict primarily involves states fighting one another. Intrastate conflict occurs primarily within the territory of a state and usually involves the…

War and Armed Conflict Introduction War and armed conflict are central concepts in international relations, strategic studies, international law and political history. They describe organized violence involving states, non-state actors or both. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they have different analytical and legal applications. War traditionally refers to sustained organized armed violence between…

Hybrid Warfare and Grey-Zone Competition Introduction Hybrid warfare and grey-zone competition describe strategies that combine different instruments of power to achieve political or strategic objectives while avoiding, limiting or complicating conventional military confrontation. These concepts are particularly relevant to contemporary international security because modern competition increasingly occurs across military, economic, political, informational, cyber and technological…

Collective Security and Collective Defence Introduction Collective security and collective defence are important concepts in international security. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they describe different institutional and strategic arrangements. Collective security is based on the principle that aggression against one member is a concern for the wider international community and that members should…

Deterrence, Compellence and Containment Introduction Deterrence, compellence and containment are major concepts in international security and strategic studies. They describe different ways in which states attempt to influence the behaviour of other states, armed groups or strategic competitors. Deterrence seeks to prevent an action by threatening unacceptable consequences. Compellence seeks to make an actor undertake,…