ABSTRACT
One of the most immediately apparent features of international relations in the post-Cold War era was the ‘explosion’ of intra-state conflicts, variously described as ethnic conflicts and civil wars. The ostensibly dramatic increase in intra-state instability precipitated much exploration into first, the catalysts for this new phenomenon and second, the most appropriate means by which these conflicts could be resolved. Debate regarding the second of these issues, the resolution of ethnic conflict, manifested most prominently in discussions regarding humanitarian intervention. Intra-state violence in Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda and others suggested to some that outside intervention was required if these conflicts were to be resolved. Stopping the immediate violence has proved to be, though undeniably difficult, ultimately a matter of logistics and political will. Resolving the conflict, that is eliminating the underlying tensions that caused the violence, has proved to be an altogether more difficult though arguably no less important task.
