Hidden Spoiler Issue in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

In analyzing conflicts, current CAR and IR theories focused on manifest parties and their actions. However, in some conflicts there are hidden spoilers who engage in either triggering a new conflict or escalating an ongoing one, and mostly this engagement is not known to the parties (either one of them or all) or to the possible interveners but plays an active/important role in conflict dynamics. This study will explore which factors, motivations, and goals lead hidden spoilers to engage in spoiling, which mechanisms are being utilized in pursuit of their goal(s), and how their involvement impact conflict dynamics.