Can external parties exacerbate territorial conflicts for material gain?

Yes, external parties can indeed exacerbate territorial conflicts for material gain.

Territorial conflicts often involve disputes over land, resources, or strategic locations. External parties, such as other countries, multinational corporations, or international organisations, can exacerbate these conflicts for their own material gain. This can occur through various means, including providing financial or military support to one side, exploiting the conflict for economic gain, or manipulating the conflict to advance their own geopolitical interests.

One way external parties can exacerbate territorial conflicts is by providing financial or military support to one side. This can prolong the conflict, as it enables the supported side to continue fighting, and can escalate the conflict by encouraging more aggressive tactics. For example, during the Iran-Iraq War, various countries including the United States and the Soviet Union provided arms and financial support to both sides, which contributed to the prolongation and escalation of the conflict.

External parties can also exploit territorial conflicts for economic gain. For instance, multinational corporations may take advantage of the instability caused by the conflict to secure access to valuable resources or markets. This can exacerbate the conflict by creating additional sources of tension and competition. An example of this is the role of diamond companies in the Sierra Leone Civil War, where the trade in conflict diamonds helped to fund and fuel the conflict.

Furthermore, external parties can manipulate territorial conflicts to advance their own geopolitical interests. This can involve using the conflict as a proxy for their own rivalries, or as a means to exert influence in a particular region. This can exacerbate the conflict by introducing additional layers of complexity and making it more difficult to resolve. For instance, during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union often intervened in territorial conflicts in the Third World as part of their global power struggle, which often served to escalate and prolong these conflicts.

In conclusion, external parties can and often do exacerbate territorial conflicts for material gain. This can occur through various means, and can have significant implications for the dynamics and outcomes of these conflicts.