ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyzes the patterns in international and intrastate armed conflict from 1946-2014. The Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM) at the University of Maryland has produced Peace and Conflict since 2001. Hvard Strand and Halvard Buhaug analysis relies on information compiled by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). Drawing on an emergent information resource, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) Project, summarizes the trends in armed conflict across Africa from 1997-2014, accompanied by plentiful maps. The book spotlights global trends in armed attacks against civilian populations by government and rebel armed forces from 1989-2013. It also examines the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) to analyze more than 125,000 terrorist attacks around the world from 1970-2013. The book evaluates the implementation of 34 post-civil war peace agreements from 1989-2014.
