SECURITY AND CONFLICT

ABSTRACT Security and conflict remain among the most consequential and enduring concerns of political life and international relations. The twenty-first century has witnessed the convergence of multiple security crises — including great-power rivalry, jihadist insurgencies, climate-induced instability, hybrid warfare, nuclear proliferation risks, and transnational organised crime — that challenge the adequacy of existing theoretical frameworks and international governance architectures. This study undertakes a comprehensive and systematic examination of security and conflict in the contemporary international system, with specific attention to the West African and global contexts. The study is anchored in three principal theoretical frameworks: realism (particularly structural realism and offensive realism), constructivism, and the human security paradigm. Guided by a qualitative, descriptive research design, the study draws on primary and secondary sources, including scholarly articles, institutional reports, policy documents, and case study evidence, to analyse the structural and proximate causes of contemporary conflict; assess the performance of multilateral peace and security mechanisms; and evaluate the adequacy of prevailing policy responses. The study finds that contemporary conflicts are characterised by their multidimensional and interconnected nature, driven by the intersection of state fragility, identity politics, resource competition, climate stress, and great-power competition. It further finds that existing international peace and security institutions, while providing important frameworks for conflict management, are constrained by geopolitical divisions, governance deficits, and resource inadequacies that limit their effectiveness. The study concludes that durable peace requires integrated policy responses that combine strategic deterrence and conflict management with inclusive governance, equitable development, and the systematic mainstreaming of human security principles. Specific recommendations are advanced for national governments, regional organisations, and the international community. Keywords: Security Studies, Armed Conflict, Human Security, Peacebuilding, Realism, Constructivism, Great-Power Competition, Non-State Actors, West Africa, Sahel