Conflict Dynamics Civil Wars, Armed Actors, and Their Tactics / Alethia H. Cook, Marie Olson Lounsbery.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cook, Alethia H.

Olson Lounsbery, Marie, 1970- author.

Series:

Studies in security and international affairs.

Studies in security and international affairs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sierra Leone--History--Civil War, 1991-2002.

Sierra Leone.

Congo (Brazzaville)--History--Civil War, 1997.

Congo (Brazzaville).

Sri Lanka--History--Civil War, 1983-2009.

Sri Lanka.

Insurgency--Indonesia--History--20th century.

Insurgency.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (211 pages) : illustrations, maps.

Manufacture:

Baltimore, Md. : Project MUSE, 2017

Place of Publication:

Athens, GA : University of Georgia Press, 2017.

Summary:

Conflict Dynamics presents case studies of six nation-states: Sierra Leone, the Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Peru. In the book, Alethia H. Cook and Marie Olson Lounsbery examine the evolving nature of violence in intrastate conflicts, as well as the governments and groups involved, by focusing on the context of the relationships involved, the capacities of the conflict's participants, and the actors' goals. The authors first present a theoretical framework through which the changeable mix of relative group capacities and the resulting tactical decisions can be examined systematically and as conflicts evolve over time. They then apply that framework to the six case studies to show its usefulness in better understand­ing conflicts individually and in comparison. While previous research on civil wars has tended to focus on causes and outcomes, Conflict Dynamics takes a more comprehensive approach to understanding conflict behavior. The shifting nature of relative group capacity (measured in many different ways), coupled with dynamic group goals, determines the tactical decisions of civil war actors and the paths a rebellion will take. The case studies illustrate the relevance of third parties to this process and how their interventions can influence tactics. The progression of violence in conflicts is inextricably linked to the decisions made in their midst. These influence future iterations of the conflictual relationship. Complex groups on both sides both drive and are driven by the decisions made. Understanding conflicts requires that these reciprocal impacts be considered. The comparative frame­work demonstrated in this book allows one to flesh out this complexity.

Contents:

Introduction

Conflict dynamics: a comparative framework

Resources and conflict: Sierra Leone

Elite-led episodic rivalry: Republic of the Congo

Ethnic conflict over time: Sri Lanka

A case of enduring rivalries: Myanmar

Challenges of a heterogeneous population: Indonesia

Rivals, conflict, and ideology: Peru

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780820351063

0820351067

OCLC:

988028777