The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is engaged in a variety of peacebuilding and conflict management efforts in many of the countries where these lesser-known risks are emerging. In a series of articles, the Institute examines some of these “sleeper risks” through the analytical lens of USIP experts.

Many of the clearest risks of conflict, violence and instability around the world have received widespread media attention. But a variety of other risks and threats have been smoldering quietly. They stem from long-developing trends or underappreciated political, economic or diplomatic factors, and some are spinning off from wider, existing conflicts or disputes.

The exploration of rising conflicts presented throughout this series isn’t meant to be definitive; nor does it represent an official USIP list. But the risks and threats being spotlighted suggest that there will be no shortage of attention-grabbing conflicts in 2013.

Read Features in This Series


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