This comprehensive four-volume set provides up-to-date, reliable and understandable analysis of the hot spots of armed conflict around the world and is arranged by world region. This new edition pays special attention to the conflicts in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Yemen, Syria, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, and Venezuela, among others, and includes detailed coverage on volatile regions, like North Korea, Russia, and the U.S./Saudi/Iran relationship. Volumes include informative regional essays, country essays with short descriptions of their most pressing problem, including the origin, nature and history of conflicts, a list of essays by type of conflict; current, former and variant names of countries; and a detailed index. An annotated Further Reading section at the end of each country essay is enormously helpful, as are the sidebars and photos scattered throughout. Designed for high school and community college students, undergraduates, and the general public.