Power Keg is a metaphorical term sometimes used when referring to countries or geographical region where political, socio-economic and historical circumstances have made the area prone to outbursts of wars or other conflicts. The analogy is drawn from a perception that certain territories may seem peaceful and dormant until a minor event triggers a large outburst of violence. The term is most often used to simplify and help the understanding of what many times is a complex set of circumstances that lead to conflicts (see diagram of WWI Powder Keg )