ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

The Logic of Violence in Civil War

Okay, so imagine that you and your friend have an argument in the playground about who gets to play with the swing. You both want to use the swing, but there is only one available. You might try talking it out and finding a way to share the swing, but if that doesn't work, you may start pushing and shoving each other to try and get your way. This is kind of like how people in a civil war might start out.

When a group of people in a country have a disagreement about how things should be run, they might try to talk it out and come to an agreement, just like you and your friend did. But sometimes, the people in power (like the government) don't want to listen or compromise, and people start to get angry and frustrated.

This is when things can turn violent. People who are feeling oppressed or angry might feel like they have no other choice but to fight back against the government or other groups who they believe are causing harm.

But violence can quickly spiral out of control. Just like how your fight with your friend over the swing might escalate and get more intense, violence in a civil war can start to consume entire communities and the entire country. People might start taking revenge against each other, with each side feeling like they are justified in their actions.

So while violence might seem like the only way to get what you want, it can cause a lot of destruction and pain for many people. It's always better to try and find peaceful solutions to conflicts, even when it seems like there's no way to come to an agreement.