Conflict Change and Persistence

This book traces the roots of the two enduring rivalries: the India-Pakistan and Arab-Israeli conflicts. It then compares trends of development and change over time and examines their impact on the persistence of each conflict. Covering a wide range of historical events spanning seven decades in the two regions, including major militarized disputes and peace negotiations, the study points to variation in interstate relations and a significant increase in animosity between states and non-state players. It shows how changes in the agenda and the identity discourse of the main actors involved in these conflicts have undermined the idea of a “two-state” solution, hindering the resolution of the persistent conflicts in South Asia and the Middle East.