This volume of history behind the headlines covers thirty conflicts-including ethnic, religious, economic, political, territorial, and environmental conflicts. The topics were chosen following an extensive review of the conflicts covered in newspapers, magazines, and on television. A large number of potential conflicts were identified. Advisors including academic experts, high school social study teachers, and librarians-prioritized the list, identifying those conflicts that generate the most questions. Topics were than selected to provide a regional balance and to cover various types of conflicts. The conflicts covered are complex. Each essay discusses multiple aspects of the conflict, including economic and social aspects to religious conflicts, the interests of other countries.