Explanations for Intrastate War

Question 1

Individual level explanations

Answer 1

Social identity theory, passions of leaders’ motives

Question 2

“Social identity theory” is an example of?

Answer 2

An individual-level explanation.

Question 3

Social identity theory

Answer 3

• Each individual belongs to a group that it values and from which they can gain some identity.
• Compare themselves to other groups.
• If group membership is negative, they may seek to remedy that or change their identity.
• If this option is unavailable due to, say, historic injustices, resource inequalities or privileged groups being unwilling to change, then conflict arises.

Question 4

Civil wars occur in…

Answer 4

Political, historical and economic contexts wherein there are factors which reinforce the incentive or opportunity for violence.

Question 5

Unit level explanations

Answer 5

Ethnic hatred, economic explanations, justice seeking, security dilemmas

Question 6

“Ethnic hatred” is an example of?

Answer 6

A unit-level explanation

Question 7

Ethnic hatred

Answer 7

• At times, emphasised primordial animosities (e.g. Serbs and Kosovars).
• Without a strong central authority to keep the peace, then conflict arises.

Question 8

“Economic explanations” is an example of?

Answer 8

A unit-level explanation

Question 9

Economic explanations

Answer 9

• Low-income countries with weak governments that depend heavily on natural resources.
• Thus war for private gain (e.g. South Sudan and southern oil deposits).
• Resources provide incentives to fight, a means to equip/fund rebel militias and make rich from corruption these people.
• Food insecurity, poor governance and inadequate infrastructure leads to poverty and conflict.

Question 10

“Justice seeking” is an example of?

Answer 10

A unit-level explanation

Question 11

Justice seeking

Answer 11

• Seeking revenge for historical or present-day wrongs.
• Social fragmentation, caused by unemployment, poverty, political and social repression, etc.
• Theory of relative deprivation (when people rebel when they feel they are receiving less than they deserve).

Question 12

“Security dilemmas” is an example of?

Answer 12

A unit-level explanation

Question 13

Security dilemmas

Answer 13

• Government structures disintegrate causing domestic anarchy.
• Ethnic groups’ efforts to defend itself against other ethnic groups is seen as threatening.

Question 14

Global systems-level explanations

Answer 14

A result of interstate conflict

Question 15

“Result of interstate conflict” is an example of?

Answer 15

A global systems-level explanation.

Question 16

Result of interstate conflict

Answer 16

Self-explanatory (e.g. Serbs in Austria-Hungary with an irredentist neighbour (Serbia) allows for conflict to spread).