A failure in Iraq, and with it the spread of conflict elsewhere in the Middle East, could tip that balance.
The spread of conflict is becoming so complex that it is unlikely the present American strategy and concept of operations can stop things getting much worse, and soon.
The spread of conflict to Western Equatoria underscores how easily tensions arising from power- and resource-sharing between ethnic groups can boil over in a country where the government is often accused of favouring the Dinka, the biggest of South Sudan's 64 tribes.
There is wide discussion on how to mitigate the worldwide spread of conflict minerals [29 31].
Among the many factors driving fragility are weak and failing institutions, high levels of poverty and inequality and, in many parts of the world, the spread of conflict and violence.
The spread of conflict to Equatoria has compounded the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and precipitated its spillover to neighboring countries.
Six farmers were killed and 51 wounded in the clash.] Although he would not discuss Dongyang's problems, Mr. Jiang said he had drawn a firm conclusion from the spread of violent conflicts.
Levels of hunger in the developing world have fallen by nearly one third since the turn of the century but an "unacceptably high" number of people still do not have enough food to eat, largely because of the spread of armed conflicts, this year's global hunger index has warned.
This is particularly true with regard to the spread of internal conflicts, civil and ethnic wars and terrorism, as well as when considering the role of adolescents in these wars.
Despite the spread of the conflict, humanitarian organizations say they are still able to serve Afghans in much of the country.
One possible game-changing scenario would be the spread of the conflict beyond Syria to neighboring countries like Lebanon, Turkey or Jordan.
