With conflicts around the world rising, is the world becoming more dangerous – and is it just human nature?
A new study from the Peace Research Institute of Oslo reveals that 2023 saw more armed conflicts worldwide than any other year since World War II.
Peace Studies Professor Paul Rogers said the world is “certainly more volatile” than previous years.
“There were times during the Cold War when it was incredibly dangerous and volatile,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.
“It was certainly a period when there were relatively smaller conflicts than of course the major ones like Myanmar, Ukraine and now of course Gaza.
“There are a lot of uncertainties, and the world is becoming more unstable in many ways.”
He noted there is a lot more conflict within continents and between neighbouring nations, such as in Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
“It does stretch very much to the West, South Asia,” he said.
“Certainly, Sub-Saharan Africa is the point where there are a lot of smaller conflicts that add to a lot.”
He said conflict in countries like Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan “relates a lot to paramilitary Islamists”.
“But it’s not just that - one suspects, in addition, the problem of natural resources.”
Why is the world more dangerous?
When asked if he thought the increase in conflict was simply ‘human nature’, Prof Rogers said, “God, I hope not.”
“It's the old story – if war is the answer, then it’s a stupid question,” he said.
“We've got to learn much better, I'm afraid, and we’re not learning fast enough.”
Dozens died in the Democratic Republic of Congo following attacks from Islamist extremists, according to Congolese media.
In Sudan, doctors at one of the last functioning hospitals in the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher say they've been forced to close down the facility after it was attacked.
Russia launched aerial attacks two days ago in Ukraine, killing two people, while Hamas claimed 200 Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military operation to save four hostages.
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