Aliyev, H. and Souleimanov, E. A. (2019) Ethnicity and conflict severity: accounting for the effect of co-ethnic and non-ethnic militias on battlefield lethality. Third World Quarterly, 40(3), pp. 471-487. (doi: 10.1080/01436597.2018.1545568)
|
Text
173479.pdf - Accepted Version 479kB |
Abstract
How does the presence of armed pro-regime groups affect conflict lethality? This study examines the relationship between ethnicity, militia violence and conflict lethality in civil wars. We emphasise that differences in whether pro-regime militias were recruited in accordance with their ethnicity or not are critical in their influence upon conflict lethality, which we estimate in battlefield deaths. To that end, we categorise militias into groups recruited on their ethnic basis (co-ethnic militias) and those recruited regardless of their ethnicity (non-ethnic militias). We hypothesise that conflicts are more lethal when non-ethnic militias are involved. We link higher number of battle-deaths in conflicts with non-ethnic militias with the militia use of one-sided violence against civilians. Co-ethnic militias – that is militias recruited from the same ethnicity as rebels – are deployed amongst their co-ethnics and therefore tend to target civilians less than non-ethnic militias. This militia–civilian relationship has direct impact on conflict severity. To test our hypotheses we conduct global statistical analysis of 84 intrastate conflicts from 1989 to 2014.
Item Type: | Articles |
---|---|
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Aliyev, Dr Huseyn |
Authors: | Aliyev, H., and Souleimanov, E. A. |
College/School: | College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Central and East European Studies |
Journal Name: | Third World Quarterly |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
ISSN: | 0143-6597 |
ISSN (Online): | 1360-2241 |
Published Online: | 11 December 2018 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 Global South Ltd |
First Published: | First published in Third World Quarterly 40(3):471-487 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record