Civil Wars : Understanding Internal Conflict in a Changing World

Civil wars, in all their various forms, have been the subject of much discussion within the field of international relations. This book provides a comprehensive examination of the various factors contributing to the outbreak of such wars and violence, the volatile nature of civil wars, their termination, and the challenges that remain in post-conflict societies.   Conflict studies experts Marie Olson Lounsbery and Frederic S. Pearson begin with a discussion of individuals and groups and what motivates people to take up arms against their governments, knowing that doing so means pitting themselves against a much stronger military adversary. They also explore the state level factors that make some states more susceptible to civil violence, as well as the systemic factors that play an important role in determining the types of armed conflict that will emerge, and how external actors will respond. Dyadic interactions among conflict actors are also examined focusing intently on escalation and de-escalation patterns before delving into conflict termination and the aftermath of civil wars. Integrating case discussions to illustrate the material, the book sheds light on conflicts in Iraq, Ukraine, Myanmar, Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Sudan, Congo, and many more. Trends in civil conflict are also presented along with research spotlights.   In conversation with existing literature, this book presents and compares historical data and analyses with case studies, and illustrates the variety of ways such wars develop and are (or are not) ended.