The document outlines the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research's (HIIKR) definition of political conflict and their methodology for measuring conflict intensity on a scale from dispute to war. A political conflict involves at least two assertive actors with opposing positions on issues relevant to a society, carried out through observable measures outside of established procedures that threaten core state functions or international order. The HIIKR system classifies conflicts as disputes, non-violent crises, violent crises, limited wars, or wars based on the level of physical violence used and the consequences of conflict measures.

1. Conflict
IB Global Politics
UWC Costa Rica

2. Heidelberg Institute for
International Conflict Research
• The HIIK's annual publication Conflict Barometer
describes the recent trends in global conflict
developments, escalations, de-escalations, and
settlements
• Coup d’état, attempted coups d'états, as well as
implemented measures of conflict resolution are
also reported.
• It is subdivided into five world regions and
presents all present conflicts in detailed charts and
short descriptions.
• The methodological approach consists of the
conflict definition and the measuring of the conflict
intensity.

3. HIICR Definition of Conflict
A political conflict is a positional difference
between at least two assertive and directly
involved actors regarding values relevant to
a society which is carried out using
observable and interrelated conflict
measures that lie outside established
regulatory procedures and threaten core
state functions, the international order, or
hold the prospect of doing so

4. Positional Difference and
Conflict
The essence of a political conflict lies in a
contradiction, adequately represented by the
concept of a “positional difference”
A positional difference is a perceived
incompatibility of ideas and beliefs

5. Elements of positional
difference #1
• There must be at least two entities
possessing intellectual capacity and
vision, and who are capable of
communicating.
• Such an entity is called an actor

6. Elements of positional
difference #2
• In order for the actors to sense
incompatibility between their ideas and
beliefs, there must be reciprocal actions
and acts of communication between said
actors.
• These actions and acts of communication
are called measures

7. Elements of positional
difference #3
• Conflict actors are individuals or collectives that are
relevant because they are taken into account by other
conflict actors in their decision-making processes.
Collective actors are characterized by their high
degree of internal cohesion manifesting in a coherent
structure of preferences. They include states,
international organizations and non-state actors
• Conflict measures are actions and communications
carried out by a conflict actor in the context of a
political conflict.
• Conflict issues are material or immaterial goods
pursued by conflict actors via conflict measures

9. Intensity Definition
Dispute A political conflict is classified as a dispute if it meets all elements of the basic concept.
Non-violent crisis A political conflict is classified as a non-violent crisis if physical violence is being implicitly or explicitly threatened
to persons or property by at least one of the actors, or if one actor uses physical violence against property,
without regarding the injury of people as acceptable. A threat of force is understood as a verbally or non-verbally
communicated prospect of violent measures that is based on the conflict item. An acceptance of the injury of
persons is present when the use of force against property includes the possibility of the injury of people but the
violator is indifferent to this possibility.
Violent crisis A political conflict is classified as a violent crisis when at least one actor uses force sporadically against persons -
or things in case that physical violence against people is considered acceptable. The applied means and
consequences altogether are limited.
Limited war A political conflict is classified as a limited war when at least one actor uses force against persons and maybe
things in a distinctive way. The applied means and consequences altogether are serious.
War A political conflict is classified as a war when at least one actor uses force massively against persons and maybe
things. The applied means and consequences altogether need to be framed as extensive.

10. Activity:
• Evaluate the usefulness of the HIICR
fivefold typography of conflict
• For each of the five categories of conflict
give a contemporary example and say why
you chose it