44 War and peace

A

B

C 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

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]

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]

44.1

44.2

44.3

44.4

Fill the gaps with words from A opposite.

1 When and economic had failed, the Cabinet voted to take

military action. 2 Occasional violence between the two groups eventually into all- civil

war. 3 The government forces were accused of carrying out ethnic by executing members

of the rival tribe. 4 During the war, a occurred in a village near the border. Some 150 women and children were shot by enemy troops. 5 The war brought about change. The former dictator was and forced to flee from the country. 6 The process of conflict was successful and the country has now been at peace for

ten years. 7 War should always be a last when all other avenues have been explored.

8 There were many civilian

as a result of the bombing raid. 9 There were violent between police and demonstrators in the capital city. 10 The armed forces moved a large amount of to the battlefront, including tanks, artillery and missile launchers.

Replace the underlined words using an appropriate form of the word in brackets.

1 The irrational dislike of people of other ethnic groups is one of the root causes of conflict. (hate) 2 The involvement of the United Nations in the situation helped to restore peace. (intervene) 3 The political groups that opposed one another finally negotiated a peace agreement. (rival) 4 The general was a cruel and violent dictator who ruled for 18 years. (Brute) 5 There had been a longstanding feeling of not trusting each other between the two tribes. (trust) 6 The fight against the government began in 2010. (reBel)

Choose a word from the box to complete the sentences below, using an appropriate form.

ambush observers truce suicide wage siege peacekeeping campaign ceasefire

1 A bomber disguised as a police officer killed 15 people in an attack today. 2 The UN sent in a force to keep the two sides in the civil war apart. 3 A convoy of lorries was by enemy soldiers in a remote valley yesterday. 4 International monitored the election and concluded that it had been fair. 5 The government has war on the drug cartels for the last ten years. 6 The of the city lasted six months before the enemy troops were pushed back. 7 After a year of fighting, the two sides agreed to a to enable peace negotiations to start. (two possible answers) 8 The army fought a long to free the country from the enemy forces.

Match the sentence beginnings on the left with the endings on the right.

1 The President was besieged a advertising campaign to launch the new phone. 2 Our team is battling b war on child poverty. 3 He had a fight on c fleet of white limousines. 4 The company planned a major d by reporters as she stepped out of her car. 5 The government set out to wage e to reach the semi-finals. 6 The band arrived in a f his hands to convince everyone he was right.