| ID | 146923 |
| Title Proper | Peace from the past |
| Other Title Information | pre-colonial political institutions and civil wars in Africa |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Wig, Tore |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Research on the relationship between political institutions and civil war has paid insufficient attention to the role of traditional institutions in developing countries. This study presents large-N evidence showing that traditional ethnic institutions with origins prior to Western colonization are associated with the prevalence of civil wars in Africa after independence. Matching ethnographic data on the pre-colonial political organization of African indigenous groups to contemporary data on ethnic groups in conflict, I investigate the relationship between the traditional organization of ethnic groups and ethnic civil wars in Africa after decolonization. Specifically, I argue that excluded groups with centralized traditional institutions can rely on these institutions to more credibly bargain with the state, and that this reduces their risk of conflict. Accordingly, I find that excluded groups with centralized pre-colonial institutions are less likely to be involved in civil wars. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of Peace Research Vol. 53, No.4; Jul 2016: p.509-524 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Peace Research Vol: 53 No 4 |
| Key Words | Institutions ; Ethnic Conflict ; Africa ; Ethnic Power Relations ; Civil War |