Overview

Since World War II, civil wars have replaced interstate wars as the most frequent and deadly form of armed conflict globally. How do we account for when and where civil wars are likely to occur, when and how they are likely to end, and whether or not they will recur? In this timely book, leading scholars guide us through what the latest research tells us about the onset, duration, outcomes, and recurrence of civil wars, as well as the ongoing consequences of conflicts in war-torn countries such as Syria, Sudan, and Rwanda. In mapping out the current state of our knowledge about civil conflicts, the authors also identify what we do not know about civil wars. The book describes new directions in civil-war research, including transitional justice institutions in post-conflict environments, the resource curse, the role of women, and the relationship between the environment and civil conflict. The authors also highlight new trends in civil-war data collection that have enabled scholars to examine the geographic and temporal patterns of armed conflict. This authoritative text offers both an accessible and current overview of current knowledge and an agenda for future research. With contributions by Halvard Buhaug, David E. Cunningham, Kathleen Gallagher Cunningham, Jacqueline H. R. DeMeritt, Karl DeRouen Jr., Paul F. Diehl, Andrew Enterline, Erika Forsberg, Scott Gates, Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, Nils Petter Gleditsch, Caroline A. Hartzell, Cullen Hendrix, Jacob Kathman, Christopher Linebarger, T. David Mason, Erik Melander, Sara McLaughlin Mitchell, Alyssa K. Prorok, Idean Salehyan, Lee J. M. Seymour, Megan Shannon, Benjamin Smith, David Sobek, Clayton L. Thyne, Henrik Urdal, Joseph K. Young

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9781442242241

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Reviews

For those who wonder whether all the effort that goes into political science really yields much benefit, Mason and Mitchell provide some reassurance by bringing together leading experts on civil wars for a substantial stock-taking exercise. Because wars within states are so much more common than wars between states, there is a rich amount of material available on their origins, incidence, duration, and effects. One can always doubt whether scholars can actually generate meaningful theories by comparing disparate cases, but this book shows how a combination of methodologies allows analysts to identify and explore a number of important issues, including the role of ethnicity, the importance of state capacity (or lack thereof), and the problems of bringing civil wars to definitive conclusions. Foreign Affairs This outstanding collection of essays enlightens the reader about the onset, duration, and outcome of civil wars that plague the global community, resulting in massive casualties and destruction. Today, it is Syria; tomorrow it will be somewhere else. Mason and Mitchell have assembled contributions from many of the best scholars in the study of civil wars. Every chapter contains a wealth of up-to-date insights about one of the greatest challenges to global peace. -- Todd Sandler, University of Texas at Dallas Students of conflict processes must, of necessity, cross analytical boundaries between inter-state and intra-state conflict, uncovering their interrelationships, commonalities, and differences. In What Do We Know about Civil Wars? T. David Mason and Sara McLaughlin Mitchell admirably address these tasks by bringing together top-notch scholars doing cutting-edge research on the onset, dynamics, and outcomes of civil wars. This is a must-have book for all who are concerned with conflict in the contemporary global system. -- Harvey Starr, emeritus, University of South Carolina With stimulating essays that address why, how, and where civil wars break out, how long they last, why they end, and whether they recur, this book is a valuable resource for students, instructors, and researchers alike. Suitable for both advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, the volume not only covers existing theory and evidence, but highlights directions where further research is needed. -- Will H. Moore, Arizona State University

For those who wonder whether all the effort that goes into political science really yields much benefit, Mason and Mitchell provide some reassurance by bringing together leading experts on civil wars for a substantial stock-taking exercise. Because wars within states are so much more common than wars between states, there is a rich amount of material available on their origins, incidence, duration, and effects. One can always doubt whether scholars can actually generate meaningful theories by comparing disparate cases, but this book shows how a combination of methodologies allows analysts to identify and explore a number of important issues, including the role of ethnicity, the importance of state capacity (or lack thereof), and the problems of bringing civil wars to definitive conclusions. * Foreign Affairs * This outstanding collection of essays enlightens the reader about the onset, duration, and outcome of civil wars that plague the global community, resulting in massive casualties and destruction. Today, it is Syria; tomorrow it will be somewhere else. Mason and Mitchell have assembled contributions from many of the best scholars in the study of civil wars. Every chapter contains a wealth of up-to-date insights about one of the greatest challenges to global peace. -- Todd Sandler, University of Texas at Dallas Students of conflict processes must, of necessity, cross analytical boundaries between inter-state and intra-state conflict, uncovering their interrelationships, commonalities, and differences. In What Do We Know about Civil Wars? T. David Mason and Sara McLaughlin Mitchell admirably address these tasks by bringing together top-notch scholars doing cutting-edge research on the onset, dynamics, and outcomes of civil wars. This is a must-have book for all who are concerned with conflict in the contemporary global system. -- Harvey Starr, emeritus, University of South Carolina With stimulating essays that address why, how, and where civil wars break out, how long they last, why they end, and whether they recur, this book is a valuable resource for students, instructors, and researchers alike. Suitable for both advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, the volume not only covers existing theory and evidence, but highlights directions where further research is needed. -- Will H. Moore, Arizona State University

This outstanding collection of essays enlightens the reader about the onset, duration, and outcome of civil wars that plague the global community, resulting in massive casualties and destruction. Today, it is Syria; tomorrow it will be somewhere else. Mason and Mitchell have assembled contributions from many of the best scholars in the study of civil wars. Every chapter contains a wealth of up-to-date insights about one of the greatest challenges to global peace. -- Todd Sandler, University of Texas at Dallas Students of conflict processes must, of necessity, cross analytical boundaries between inter-state and intra-state conflict, uncovering their interrelationships, commonalities, and differences. In What Do We Know about Civil Wars? T. David Mason and Sara McLaughlin Mitchell admirably address these tasks by bringing together top-notch scholars doing cutting-edge research on the onset, dynamics, and outcomes of civil wars. This is a must-have book for all who are concerned with conflict in the contemporary global system. -- Harvey Starr, emeritus, University of South Carolina

Author Information

T. David Mason is Regents Professor and Johnie Christian Family Peace Professor, University of North Texas. Sara McLaughlin Mitchell is professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Iowa.

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