ABSTRACT
A decade into the new millennium, international politics continues to be punctuated by nationalist and religious strife. Whether they surface in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, or eastern Europe, ethnic and religious fault lines may lead to armed conflict within a country, followed by some degree of outside intervention. In some cases, external intervention in support of an ethnic or religious community precedes the breakout of violence. The internationalization of hitherto localized ethnic or religious conflicts has become commonplace. More often than not, international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) have initiated diplomatic efforts to try to manage such disputes, although not always with success. The United States has at times stepped in, too—even using overwhelming military force—but over the past decade it has resolved few countries’ conflicts for them.
