ABSTRACT
This chapter examines trends in civil conflicts, fractionalization, and transnational support to rebel groups over the post-1945 period. The civil war in Syria that started in 2011 has resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, created millions of refugees and internally displaced persons, and led to major changes in the balance of power between states and non-state groups throughout the broader region. Civil wars also have important repercussions for the region in which they occur and potentially for global politics in general. Some militant organizations, such as the Kachin insurgents in Myanmar, have purely local aims and do not rely on widespread support across the region. The influence of the Free Syrian Army has waned as more extreme groups, linked with transnational Islamist militancy, have gained in strength. Foreign support for rebel organizations increased dramatically during the 1960s, then reached a plateau during the 1970s and 1980s, with approximately 70 percent of all rebel groups receiving assistance.
