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War and peace A
War and violence War is often seen as a last resort1 when relations between states break down totally and diplomacy2 and such measures as economic sanctions3 have failed. The decision to take military action is rarely made lightly, since even the best-planned military operations, carried out with the benefit of the latest hi-tech weaponry4, inevitably result in civilian casualties5. Military intervention6 may be carried out with the goal of regime change7, but it is often the leaders of tyrannical8 regimes who are the most difficult to overthrow9. Even more tragic than wars between states is civil war10, which often begins with civil unrest11 and clashes12 between rival13 ethnic14 religious or political groups, and may escalate15 into all-out16 war and end in the brutal suppression17 of one group by another or, in extreme cases, ethnic cleansing18 and massacres19. Conflict resolution20 may take years to bring into effect, and mistrust21 and hatred22 between groups within the same country may continue for many years. 1
something you do when everything else has failed 2 activities concerning the relationships between governments 3 official orders, such as the stopping of trade, taken against a country to make it obey international law 4 weapons in general / of different types 5 people injured or killed who are not members of the military or the police 6 intentionally becoming involved in a difficult situation to improve it or stop it from getting worse 7 changing the government or leader of a country, especially by force 8 using power in a cruel way over people in a country or group 9 remove somebody from power using force 10 war between groups who live in the same country 11 disagreement or fighting between groups 12 fights or arguments 13 who compete against one another 14 national or racial 15 become greater or more serious 16 complete and total 17 violent and cruel ending of the right or freedom to do something 18 organised attempt by one racial or political group to completely remove from a country or area anyone who belongs to another particular racial group, using violence to achieve this 19 the killing of large numbers of people 20 finding a way to end conflict and the negative feelings between groups 21 lack or absence of trust 22 feeling of intense dislike
B
Other words and expressions relating to war and peace Powerful West African rulers waged war on their neighbours in the 19th century. [fought a war against] Hostilities finally ceased after five years of bloodshed. [acts of war] The invading army besieged the city. [attacked by surrounding it for a period of time (noun = siege)] The patrol was ambushed on a remote highway. [attacked unexpectedly from secret positions (noun = ambush)] The two armies signed a truce in 2016. [agreement during a war to stop fighting for a time] A ceasefire was declared in 2015. [agreement between two armies or groups to stop fighting] A peacekeeping force entered the country in 2016. [neutral soldiers who keep the peace in a divided society]
International observers monitored the ceasefire. [outside, neutral people or body] The rebels fought a long campaign against the dictatorship. The rebellion lasted ten years before the dictator was defeated. [planned group of military activities] [people fighting against their government] A suicide bomber killed 25 people at a military base yesterday. [person who lets off explosives,
deliberately killing themselves in the process]
C
Metaphors of warfare The government is waging war on drink-driving. Paparazzi are besieging the star’s Hollywood home. A major advertising campaign was planned to launch the new cosmetics range. Several companies are battling to win market supremacy in sales of smartphones. We have a major fight on our hands if we are to save the company from bankruptcy. A fleet of bullet-proof cars followed the President’s limousine. [a fleet normally consists of a large number of ships]
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English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
