Day: August 15, 2025

Armed conflict involves the use of force between organized armed groups, whether they are government or non-governmental. Civilian casualties, human rights abuses, and a lack of access to essential services are among the consequences of these conflicts. These escalating occurrences can result in immense suffering for the population affected, as well as for the region and the global economy.

A range of reasons can motivate the emergence of a war, but economic motivations are a common factor. Indeed, there is a growing concern that armed conflicts are largely financed by the extraction of natural resources such as minerals or oil. A classic example was the war in Sierra Leone that started as a conflict over the control of diamond-rich territories. Both the rebels and the government sold the future exploitation of the resources to finance their military operations.

The complexities of contemporary armed conflicts often defy formal legal criteria and call into question the distinction between State and non-State actors. Moreover, many States do not participate directly in a conflict, and the presence of international armed forces can change the character of the situation.

These factors render it crucial to understand the underlying dynamics of armed conflict in order to address the challenges they represent. This requires a multifaceted approach that includes addressing the root causes and seeking long-term solutions that foster stability and peace. The article is based on the Geneva Academy’s Rule of Law in Armed Conflict Online Portal, which monitors 110 situations of armed conflict and provides information on the parties and applicable international humanitarian law.

A currency devaluation is a government policy tool that involves intentionally making the country’s money less valuable. The aim is to make exports cheaper and imports more expensive so that domestic goods gain competitive advantage in foreign markets. This can boost a nation’s economic growth and help with its trade balance. However, it can also lead to unchecked inflation and damage the economy over time.

14-18 year olds (9-12 graders, US) studying Social Studies and Economics

A nation’s currency is often a reflection of the economic health of the country. When a currency is weak, it usually comes from a cocktail of economic troubles – rampant inflation, political chaos, mountainous debts, and persistent trade deficits that make other countries lose faith in the country’s financial stability. The government may then resort to various monetary policies – including currency devaluation – to address these issues.

Devaluation lowers the value of a country’s currency in relation to major strong currencies such as the US dollar, euro, and British pound. When a currency is weak, it becomes easier for the country to compete in global markets and reduce its sovereign debt burdens by making its exports cheaper and its imported products more expensive. However, this can harm a country’s consumers by increasing inflation and reducing the real income of the population. It can also encourage other nations to engage in a race-to-the-bottom by devaluing their own currency, causing tit-for-tat currency wars that are harmful to the global economy.