Exploring the General Sources of Human Conflict

Why do humans engage in conflict? This question has puzzled thinkers for centuries. Understanding the sources of conflict is essential for anyone working toward peace. While conflicts may appear on the surface to be about territory, resources, or political power, their roots often lie much deeper. Three fundamental sources shape human conflict: our inherent psychological traits, socio-economic inequalities, and the violation of basic human rights.

Aggressive human nature as a source of conflict
Socio-economic and political inequalities
The impact of globalization on inequality
India’s Naxalite movement as a case study
Denial of human rights as a catalyst for conflict
Human rights violations as root causes
The non-negotiable nature of rights

Aggressive human nature as a source of conflict

For many scholars, conflict begins within the human psyche itself. Psychiatrist Sigmund Freud traced the roots of conflict in intractable human nature, stating that aggression is carried out in the name of self-preservation and is inherent to humans. When Albert Einstein wrote to Freud before World War II asking about the easy arousal of hatred, Freud responded that violence stems from a death instinct aimed at returning things to an inanimate state.

The biblical story of Cain and Abel illustrates how deep-seated psychological impulses can lead to violent outcomes. When Cain’s offering was rejected while Abel’s was accepted, feelings of jealousy and perceived injustice drove him to murder his brother. This ancient narrative captures what psychologists call the frustration-aggression complex, where hostile impulses emerge from incompatible motives and unmet expectations.

However, this view is not universally accepted. An eminent group of behavioral scientists issued The Seville Statement in 1986, concluding that no scientific basis exists for the belief that humans are naturally or biologically warlike, violent and aggressive. The statement challenges the notion that aggression is hardwired into our biology. Many peace researchers argue that while humans may have aggressive tendencies, social structures and cultural norms play a far more significant role in determining whether these impulses manifest as violence.

Socio-economic and political inequalities

The connection between inequality and conflict has been recognized since ancient times. Aristotle observed that party strife is everywhere due to inequality, where classes that are unequal do not receive a share of power in proportion. He noted that generally, the motive for factious strife is the desire for equality. This insight from over two millennia ago remains relevant today.

Modern conflict studies distinguish between vertical inequality, which exists between individuals, and horizontal inequality, which exists between groups. Horizontal inequalities are defined as inequalities in economic, political, or social dimensions between culturally defined groups. Research shows solid support for the argument that high levels of horizontal economic and political inequalities among the relatively deprived make violent conflict more likely.

The impact of globalization on inequality

In our age of globalization, the gap between rich and poor nations continues to widen, creating what development experts call a marginalized underclass. These widening disparities create fertile ground for both intrastate and interstate conflicts. When entire communities feel systematically excluded from economic opportunities and political participation, they become vulnerable to mobilization for armed resistance.

India’s Naxalite movement as a case study

The Naxalite Movement in India has its true roots deep within socio-economic inequalities, government neglect, and historical injustice. Beginning in 1967 in the village of Naxalbari, West Bengal, this left-wing insurgency emerged from peasant revolts against local landlords demanding land reforms.

Widespread landlessness among marginalized communities, failure to implement land reforms, exploitation of tribal communities, severe poverty, lack of employment opportunities, and unequal distribution of resources in underdeveloped regions contribute to resentment against the state. The movement has affected hundreds of districts across multiple Indian states, particularly in densely forested and mineral-rich areas where tribal communities have faced displacement and exploitation.

Research using district-level data found that land inequality and lower incomes are important factors behind the conflict, with the growth of incomes of Scheduled Tribes significantly decreasing the intensity of conflict. This demonstrates how addressing economic inequalities can directly reduce violent conflict.

Denial of human rights as a catalyst for conflict

The violation or denial of basic human rights represents a non-negotiable core of many conflicts. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. These include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many others.

When groups are denied rights proclaimed in the UDHR, they are far more likely to fight for them rather than compromise. According to the United Nations, a human rights violation occurs when actions by state or non-state actors abuse, ignore, or deny basic human rights laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These violations can range from genocide and torture to sexual violence and denial of basic needs.

Human rights violations as root causes

UN officials have emphasized that human rights violations often serve as root causes of conflict. Unaddressed grievances, inequalities, and exclusion drive conflict, which is why accountability, non-discrimination, and participation are core principles of the human rights-based approach. When social inequalities, severe discrimination, and injustice are addressed, tensions can be prevented from escalating, and trust between communities can begin to build.

Over 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide by the end of 2022, many due to conflict and persecution. In Syria, over 500,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict began in 2011. In Yemen, more than 20 million people need humanitarian assistance, with widespread reports of torture, arbitrary detention, and sexual violence. These statistics reveal how human rights violations both cause and perpetuate cycles of violence.

The non-negotiable nature of rights

What makes human rights violations particularly explosive as a source of conflict is their non-negotiable character. Unlike disputes over resources that can potentially be mediated through bargaining, fundamental rights such as freedom from torture, the right to life, and freedom of expression are not matters for compromise. When governments systematically violate these rights, affected populations often see armed resistance as their only option for achieving justice and dignity.

What do you think? Considering these three sources of conflict, which do you believe is most critical to address in today’s world? How might understanding these root causes help us build more effective pathways toward lasting peace?

References

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Exploring the General Sources of Human Conflict

Table of Contents

Aggressive human nature as a source of conflict 🔗

Socio-economic and political inequalities 🔗

The impact of globalization on inequality 🔗

India’s Naxalite movement as a case study 🔗

Denial of human rights as a catalyst for conflict 🔗

Human rights violations as root causes 🔗

The non-negotiable nature of rights 🔗