Internal Conflicts and Peacebuilding
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC examines internal security challenges, the role of state and non-state actors in conflict, various approaches to conflict resolution (negotiation vs. military action), and the socio-economic impacts of prolonged conflicts on governance and human rights.
Internal conflicts, often involving non-state armed groups and fueled by socio-economic grievances or illicit economies, pose significant challenges to national security, governance, and human rights, necessitating comprehensive peacebuilding strategies.
Facts & tables
- Colombia's 'Total Peace' Initiative
- An initiative by the outgoing President Gustavo Petro to negotiate with guerrillas and drug traffickers.
- Policy Debate
- The election presented a choice between extending peace talks and adopting a hard-right military crackdown on armed groups.
- Historical Context
- Colombia has a history of decades of war between the state and various armed groups.
- Impact on Civilians
- The conflict has been marked by violence, including car bombs, assassinations, and threats, causing fear of war returning.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Conflict Resolution |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Internal conflicts involve state vs. non-state armed groups.
- Peace processes aim for negotiated settlements.
- Challenges include illicit economies and political polarization.
- Military crackdowns are an alternative approach.
- Impacts on governance, human rights, and development.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
Timeline
-
Conflict Resolution
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
-
Colombia chooses President amid surge in guerrilla violence
Colombia's presidential election on May 31, 2026, is a critical juncture for the country, with voters deciding between continuing peace talks with armed groups and drug traffickers (advocated by left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda) or adopting a hard-right military crackdown (proposed by Abelardo de la Espriella). The election serves as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" initiative, which critics argue inadvertently strengthened criminal organizations. The campaign was marred by violence, and the new president will face the challenge of addressing widespread guerrilla activity, drug trafficking, and illegal mining, with significant implications for regional stability and international relations.
See also
Past papers
2018–2024 · 8 questions
In the news
Colombia chooses President amid surge in guerrilla violence
Colombia's presidential election on May 31, 2026, is a critical juncture for the country, with voters deciding between continuing peace talks with armed groups and drug traffickers (advocated by left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda) or adopting a hard-right military crackdown (proposed by Abelardo de la Espriella). The election serves as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" initiative, which critics argue inadvertently strengthened criminal organizations. The campaign was marred by violence, and the new president will face the challenge of addressing widespread guerrilla activity, drug trafficking, and illegal mining, with significant implications for regional stability and international relations.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.
The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.
Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
1. Donbas : Syria
2. Kachin : Ethiopia
3. Tigray : North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
* The Donbas is a historical, cultural, and economic region in eastern Ukraine. It has two heavily industrialised regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which were occupied by Russian forces last year. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched. * Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. In 2022, Myanmar military air * strikes reportedly killed dozens of people including civilians at a concert in Kachin State. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. * Tigray is Ethiopia's northernmost region. The region is at the centre of an ongoing civil conflict involving ethno-regional militias, the federal government, and the Eritrean military that has attracted the concern of humanitarian groups and external actors since November 2020. In October 2022, the first formal African Union-led peace talks between an Ethiopian government team and Tigray forces happened in South Africa. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.
Consider the following countries
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?
The Organization of Turkic States, formerly called the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an international organization comprising prominent independent Turkic countries - Azerbaijan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan - Turkey
- Uzbekistan
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.
Statement-II : Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement I is correct. The Sumed Pipeline is indeed a significant route for transporting oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf to Europe. It bypasses the Suez Canal, offering an alternative path for these resources. Statement II is also correct. The Sumed Pipeline physically connects the Red Sea (where oil and gas are loaded onto ships from the Persian Gulf) with the Mediterranean Sea, providing a direct route for them to reach European ports. The connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea established by the Sumed Pipeline directly explains its strategic importance for transporting oil and gas to Europe. Statement II provides the geographical context for how Statement I functions.