The 10 Most Important International Conflicts

Every year, around the world, old conflicts worsen, new ones emerge and, occasionally, some situations improve. There is no shortage of storm clouds looming over 2014: Once again, hot spots old and new will present a challenge to the security of people across the globe. And If you follow the news, then you probably have a pretty good idea of what the most important international conflicts in 2014 were. So, to help jog your memory, there is this article on Insidermonkey you might be interested in.

Foreign policy often involves making difficult and debatable choices about which parts of the world matter more to a given country—and which, by extension, matter less. It's about defining national interests and determining where those interests are most evident and endangered. This is why the United States has done far more to stop ISIS in Syria and Iraq than, say, sectarian war in the Central African Republic.

It's difficult to convey all this in a list. But, with that said, here is the International Crisis Group's "top 10" list of global threats for the coming year. It is non-prioritized, and seeks to include a mix of the obvious risks and those we believe are bubbling beneath the surface. And because we're optimists at heart, it includes an addendum of three countries where recent developments suggest that the coming year could bring peace -- not torment. We certainly wish that for all.

While taking about international conflicts, you probably know how ignorant most of the Americans are on this topic. So, while we are at it, you should check out these 9 facts you won’t believe a majority of Americans don’t know as well!