ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the main causes of recent violent conflicts in Africa. It emphasizes how the dynamics of violent conflicts have changed over time, specifically, during, and after, the Cold War. As more and more African countries achieved independence during the 1960s and 1970s, their leaders faced the daunting challenge to bring about rapid economic development, while at the same time building a coherent nation state. The chapter discusses the main causes of contemporary conflicts, focusing on the following four factors: Flawed democratic transitions, poverty and economic decline, corruption and poor governance of natural resources, and the presence of horizontal inequalities. A low level of GDP per capita is among the most robust predictors of civil war occurrence. In turn, violent internal conflict severely hampers development in conflict-affected regions. Since the end of the Cold War recurring internal armed conflicts have cost the lives of millions of African citizens.
