This volume evaluates the state of the art in conflict studies. Original chapters by leading scholars survey theoretical and empirical research on the origins, processes, patterns, and consequences of most forms and contexts of political conflict, protest, repression, and rebellion. Contributors examine key pillars of conflict studies, including civil war, religious conflict, ethnic conflict, transnational conflict, terrorism, revolution, genocide, climate change, and several investigations into the role of the state. The research questions guiding the text include inquiries into the interactions between the rulers and the ruled, authorities and challengers, cooperation and conflict, accommodation and resistance, and the changing context of conflict from the local to the global.

Introduction 1. States and Peoples in Conflict: Pillars, Forms and Transformations in Conflict Studies Peter Grabosky, Mark Lichbach, and Michael Stohl Part I: Pillars of Conflict 2. Grievance: The Nexus between Grievances and Conflict Victor Asal and Kathleen Deloughery 3. Liberalism: The Role of Modern Liberalism Mark I. Lichbach 4. Religion: Influences on Demoestic and International Relations Jonathan Fox 5. Political Authority: Assessing the State of the "State" in Recent Cross-National Empirical Research Keith Jaggers 6. Dynamics and Processes: Linkages between Internal and External Conflict Harvey Starr and Marc V. Simon 7. Climate Change? Reviewing the Evidence Ole Magnus Theisen, Nils Petter Gleditsch, and Halvard Buhaug 8. Comparative and Historical Studies of Crime: Trends, Patterns, Contexts Peter Nils Grabosky Part II: Forms of Conflict 9. Terrorism: Situations, Structure, and Dispositions as an Analytical Framework for Studying Terrorism Scott Englund and Michael Stohl 10. Revolutions: Robust Findings, Persistent Problems, and Promising Frontiers Colin J. Beck 11. State Failure: The Problem of Complex Societal-Systems Monty G. Marshall and Benjamin R. Cole 12. Genocide and Political Mass Murder: Definitions, Theories, Analyses Barbara Harff 13. Transnational Conflict: Normative Struggles and Globalization: The Case of Indigenous Peoples in Bolivia and Ecuador Pamela Martin and Franke Wilmer 14. Wars, Civil Wars, and Armed Conflict: Patterns, Trends, and Analytic Paradigms Peter Wallensteen Conclusion 15. The Future of Conflict Studies Ted Robert Gurr