Conflict affects civilians through death and injury, displacement, economic hardship, disease, trauma and political repression. Women and marginalized groups often face intensified harm because existing inequalities shape exposure to violence and access to food, protection, healthcare and political power.
For the IB History 2020 syllabus, this fits Paper 2, Topic 2: Causes and effects of wars (750-1500), especially demographic changes, population movements, and economic, social, religious and cultural effects.
How the effects develop
War redirects labour, taxation and resources toward armies. Fighting destroys farmland, markets and transport routes, while sieges and requisitioning reduce food supplies; the resulting famine and disease may kill more civilians than combat itself. Conquest can also change borders, rulers, laws and religious institutions, exposing minority communities to persecution, forced conversion or expulsion.
Displacement deepens these effects. Refugees lose land, livelihoods and community support, while host regions face pressure on food and housing. The impact is unequal: poorer civilians, religious or ethnic minorities, enslaved people and migrants usually possess fewer resources or legal protections.
| Group | Common effects | Possible changes or agency |
|---|---|---|
| Civilians | Casualties, famine, disease, taxation, conscription and displacement | Local resistance, migration or adaptation to new rulers |
| Women | Sexual violence, widowhood, poverty and heavier caring or agricultural work | Expanded economic roles, property management or participation in defence |
| Marginalized groups | Persecution, enslavement, expulsion and unequal access to relief | Community organization, resistance or negotiation with authorities |
A common misconception is that conflict affects women only as passive victims. Women may experience gender-specific violence, but they can also become producers, household heads, political actors or participants in warfare. These changes do not automatically create lasting equality; expanded wartime roles may be reversed after peace.
Exam technique
For a Paper 2 essay, avoid listing consequences. Organize effects as economic, social, demographic, political and cultural, then explain the mechanism and compare their scale and duration across wars. Support each claim with precise evidence, maintain the 750-1500 timeframe, and reach a judgement about which effects were most significant.
