Date of Award
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Alcock, Frank
Area of Concentration
Political Science
Abstract
Conflict is a common part of social life and is present whenever individuals or groups are learning to co-exist. Civil war is a complicated form of conflict that disrupts the world. In this work I examined the commitment problems that help explain why peripheral insurgency civil wars are difficult to end. This study builds upon Fearon’s work on civil war duration in Why Do Some Civil Wars Last so Much Longer than Others? I described the nature of commitment problems and how they are manifested in three civil war cases (Nigeria, Sudan, and Afghanistan) and then conducted a cross-case analysis how determine how commitment issues affected each. I argue that peripheral insurgencies are prone to commitment problems that intensify conflicts, which then causes an increase in the number of casualties in peripheral insurgency civil wars. I seek to expand our common understanding of these problems and how they can be addressed by the international community in future conflicts.
Recommended Citation
Dick, Caleb, "Examining the Connection between the Mechanism of Commitment to Peace and the Number of Casualties arising in Peripheral Insurgencies" (2021). Theses & ETDs. 6051.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6051