Bola A. Akinterinwa Crises and conflicts exist in international relations because it is always fraught with order and counter-order which often amount to an encounter, and if not quickly and carefully managed, always result in disorder. There is nothing wrong in introducing an order.

However, it is when an order is perceived not to be fair or just, or discriminatingly implemented that room for a counter-order arises. A counter-order necessarily raises an encounter which is either peacefully negotiated or resolved by manu militari or by outright use of force. For example, the 100-year war in Europe, which actually lasted for about 116 years, considering that the fighting was not continuous, was basically about a rift between the French and English crowns.

The war lasted from 1337 to 1453. The main causal factor was that the English King, Edward III, grandson of Phillip IV of France, was denied access to the French throne, and therefore, he opted to retaliate. The denial to the claim of French throne was the order.

The retaliation was the counter-order. The discontinuous battles for over a century constituted the encounter. The poor management of the battles led to the disorderly world.

Additionally, there was also the 30-year old war which was prompted by Emperor Ferdinand II’s decision to compel Protestants to accept Catholicism, especially in light of the weakening power of the Holy Roman Emperor and the need for religious uniformity. It was resisted by the Protestants. Ev.