Comparing conflicts

By R.L.W. and G.D.

The disparity of attention and casualties among global conflicts

LARGE demonstrations in support of Gaza are taking place across Europe. Unease about the situation in Ukraine consumes people's minds. Though it has long been known that there is little correlation between the attention paid to conflicts and their level of casualties, the disparity is depressing. Since the start of the year, an estimated 30,000 people have died in Syria, about 20 times the number in Ukraine—though the latter gets far more attention in terms of Google searches. Likewise, the war in Iraq resulted in thousands of deaths so far this year. Yet it was largely out of mind until June, when the Islamic State offensive intensified, and again last week, as America announced air strikes. Searches for Gaza and Israel have waned over the past fortnight, as searches for Iraq and Syria picked up. And some conflicts get almost no attention at all. At least 2,500 have died in the Central African Republic this year, but Google searches for the African country (not shown) have been basically non-existent.