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This volume seeks to understand the central role of governments in intra-state conflicts.
The book explores how the government in any society plays two pivotal roles: as a deterrent against those who would use violence; and as a potential danger to the society. These roles come into conflict with each other, as those governments that can best deter potential rebels are also those that can do the most harm to their citizens. Therefore, a balance must be achieved, raising difficult tradeoffs for policy-makers. This volume marks a departure from studies of ethnic conflict and civil war in recent years, which have focused on failed states, in considering the idea that governments themselves may be the source of violence. The contributors not only explore the balancing act that governments must perform, but also on the positive and negative roles that the international community can play in these conflicts. In doing so, the book covers a range of cases from both advanced and newer democracies to the most conflict-prone parts of the world.
List of contents
1. Causing Security, Reducing Fear: Deterring Intra-State Violence and Assuring Government Restraint Stephen M. Saideman and Marie-Joëlle Zahar 2. Fear, Preemption, Retaliation: An Empirical Test of the Security Dilemma Stathis N. Kalyvas 3. Six Feet Over: Internal War, Battle Deaths and the Influence of the Living on the Dead David Armstrong and Christian Davenport 4. Inequality, Indivisibility, and Insecurity S Mansoob Murshed 5. Rulers as Mass Murderers: Political Institutions and Human Insecurity Aysegul Aydin and Scott Gates 6. Resentment, Fear, and the Structure of the Military in Multiethnic States Roger Petersen and Paul Staniland 7. Violence as Politics: ETA and Basque Nationalism André Lecours 8. Africa’s Power Sharing Institutions as a Response to Insecurity: Assurance without Deterrence Donald Rothchild 9. The ‘Chicken or the Egg’? External Support and Rebellion in Ethnopolitics Yasemin Akbaba, Patrick Jamesm and Zeynep Taydas 10. Tackling the Anarchy Within: The Role of Deterrence and Great Power Intervention in Peace Operations Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé 11. Conclusion: Dilemmas of Insecurity: Implications For Research and Policy Marie-Joëlle Zahar and Stephen M. Saideman
About the author
Stephen M. Saideman is Canada Research Chair of International Security and Ethnic Conflict at McGill University. Marie-Joëlle J. Zahar is Associate Professor of Political Science at the Université de Montréal.
Summary
This volume seeks to understand the central role of governments in intra-state conflicts, exploring how the government in any society plays two pivotal roles: as a deterrent against those who would use violence and as a potential danger to the society.
