State and non-state identify what kind of actor is involved, while violent and non-violent describe how that actor operates. These are separate classifications: both state and non-state actors can use violent or non-violent methods.
A state actor is a government, military, court or other institution acting with the authority of a sovereign state. A non-state actor operates independently of a state and may include armed groups, humanitarian organizations, businesses, social movements or individuals.
In the Peace and Conflict thematic study, violence can include direct violence, meaning deliberate physical harm. Non-violent action includes negotiation, mediation, humanitarian assistance, protest and other methods that do not rely on physical force.
| Actor and method | Defining feature | Contemporary example |
|---|---|---|
| Violent state actor | Uses organized force under state authority | Russia's armed forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, using military power to pursue state objectives. |
| Non-violent state actor | Uses diplomacy, mediation or legal mechanisms | Norway facilitated negotiations between Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia from 2012 to 2016, contributing to a peace agreement. |
| Violent non-state actor | Uses force without possessing recognized state sovereignty | The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia conducted guerrilla attacks and kidnappings before signing the 2016 peace agreement. |
| Non-violent non-state actor | Influences conflict without physical force | The International Committee of the Red Cross helped facilitate the release and transfer of nearly 900 conflict-related detainees in Yemen in April 2023. |
The categories may change over time. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia shifted from armed conflict to electoral politics after disarming in 2017, showing that an actor's identity and methods are not permanently fixed.
A common misconception is that all state actors are violent or that all non-state actors are peaceful. Instead, classify the actor by its relationship to sovereignty, then classify its methods separately.
Exam technique: Define both classification axes, apply them to specific cases, and analyse how each actor exercises power and claims legitimacy. Avoid merely listing actors without explaining their methods, objectives and effects on conflict.
