Civil War Risk in the West

The West’s internal political fragmentation, economic strain, cultural polarization and perceived elite weakness make large-scale violent internal conflict a plausible strategic threat rather than a marginal social problem. This shifts the security question from foreign wars and high‑tech threats to domestic political cohesion, mobilization, and how militaries and police prepare for internal contingencies. — If true, Western democracies will need to reorganize national security, policing, elections, and social policy around preventing and managing domestic insurgencies rather than only external threats.