Globalisation and Pattern of Violence: Why Many Parts of the World Boil Simultaneously

Abstract

This paper analysed the link between globalization and the current pattern of violence in the world. It set out with the aim to show that the upward trend in violent conflicts is caused and facilitated by the global system of flows and cooperation. Information was obtained from secondary sources and analysed with the use of tables. The results showed that between 2012 and 2017, 25 major violent conflicts perpetrated by groups happened around the world; most of these conflicts were internal. Overall, 15 of the group conflicts occurred in Asia, 9 in Africa and 1 in South America. Within the same period, 5 deadly incidents of criminal violence committed by individuals occurred in Western Europe and North America. Political and religious reasons accounted for group violent conflicts. Violence perpetrated by individuals was motivated by sheer criminality, especially in Western Europe and North America. Losses from the conflicts were huge as group violence led to 565,485 deaths and displacement of 15,547,000 people; while criminal violence killed 272 people. The deaths and displacement are traceable to globalization which elevates local crisis to global involvement. The paper recommends observance of rights of individuals and groups, respect for sovereign rights of countries and liberalization of rights to nuclear arms capability to reintroduce the tested principle of balance of power in world geopolitics in order to stem the tide of violence around the world.