Conflict Trends in Asia, 1989–2022

Over the past two years, government takeovers and coup d’états have been defining features of the conflict landscape in Asia. Until recently, one of the most violent conflicts in the world was located in Afghanistan, but since the takeover the number of battle-related deaths has significantly declined. However, this decrease in conflict intensity has not resulted in an increase in the quality of life under Taliban rule. In 2022, Myanmar surpassed Afghanistan as the country with the most battle-related deaths in the region after the Tatmadaw – Myanmar’s military – took power in 2021. In this policy brief, I examine the conflict trends in Asia over the past thirty years.