Overall violence presents itself as war and violent conflicts but also as violent crime. The module war and violent conflicts will shed light on these three aspects.

What is it that makes people wage war? Many people are ready to point the finger (too) quickly at some alleged basic ill that is responsible for all violent conflicts of the present and the past—be it religion, capitalism or the alleged aggressiveness, viciousness and greediness of human nature.

One can differentiate between quantitative and qualitative approaches to a scientific definition of war. Quantitative definitions of “war” require that the number of direct or indirect deaths caused by violent clashes crosses a certain threshold.

There are no real victors in wars as all parties involved have to suffer the consequences with often high numbers of casualties on both sides. Rather than dealing with the consequences resulting from a war and its end, this text will look into its direct effects on people, politics, the economy and the environment.

Millions of children are affected by war and armed violence around the world. Some children are victims of violence, while others are forced to take part in the violence, either by supporting fighting forces or actively fighting. Children who take part in war and armed violence are commonly referred to as “child soldiers.”

Sexual violence in armed conflict has reached epidemic proportions. Evidence from conflicts over the last decade shows that, in some cases, war allows for sexual violence within armed forces (i.e. the military institution of a state) and groups (i.e. groups distinct from the state’s military institution) to remain hidden in the shadows of history, which can translate into the acceptance of post-war sexual violence and impunity for its perpetrators.

Violent crime worldwide is characterised by different forms of the use of violence, such as homicide, robberies, hold-ups, abductions, rape, burglaries, car theft or drug-related crime. In Germany, the term ‘violent crime’ (Gewaltdelikte) denotes bodily harm, torture, homicide, robberies and rape.

The European Convention on Human Rights that was ratified by Germany in 1952 and entered into force on 3 September 1953 obliges all states party to the Convention to grant all persons subject to their jurisdiction certain rights and basic freedoms.

Why do people wage war? Many people are quick to identify some alleged basic evil that is solely responsible for all violent conflicts of today and the past—be it religion, capitalism or the reputed belligerent, wicked and greedy human nature. More often than not, such abbreviated statements do not do justice to the complexity of the topic.