Former Military Networks and the Micro-Politics of Violence and Statebuilding in Liberia

Themnér, Anders

doi:10.5129/001041515814709284

Cited by 33 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…Elaborating on this fundamental model to reflect more complex hierarchies, we distinguish between three organizational levels: (1) leaders, (2) lieutenants, and (3) battalions (mid-level commanders [MiLCs] and their combatants). As an example, combining findings by Lidow (2016, 118) and Themnér (2015), Figure 1 presents part of the organizational structure of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) rebel group and illustrates its different tiers of command.…”

Section: Conflict-related Sexual Violence and Group Fragmentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflict-related Sexual Violence and Rebel Group Fragmentation

Nagel

Doctor

2020

Journal of Conflict Resolution

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To what extent does sexual violence influence rebel group fragmentation? A substantial body of research explores wartime rape as a cohesion-building mechanism following forced recruitment. However, the relationship between sexual violence and broader organizational structural integrity has not been systematically tested. Our study on the effects of sexual violence on rebel group fragmentation provides this test. We argue that sexual violence increases cohesion at the battalion level but increases the risk of fragmentation of the broader organization because lieutenants are more likely to split from organizations if they are confident that their subordinate battalions are cohesive and will follow them. We test this argument on a global sample of 105 rebel organizations active between 1989 and 2014. The results provide robust support for the argument showing sexual violence increases the probability of fragmentation by a factor of six. This presents a crucial contribution to our understanding of sexual violence and rebel group fragmentation.

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Section: Conflict-related Sexual Violence and Group Fragmentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflict-related Sexual Violence and Rebel Group Fragmentation

Nagel

Doctor

2020

Journal of Conflict Resolution

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“…In addition, for excombatants, keeping in touch with comrades from the same units instead of cutting all contacts with exmilitary structures (as a result of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration process) may paradoxically facilitate their integration into society. As stressed by Themnér (, p. 334), “ex‐command structures can also generate social goods, such as friendship and a sense of belonging, and employment for ex‐combatants.”…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As shown by Themnér (, , ), exparamilitary fighters and guerrillas are, under certain conditions, susceptible to remobilization. Former midlevel commanders with whom exfighters are often still in contact after demobilization can use their fear of revenge and their dissatisfaction with their current marginalization to get them to remobilize.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Reconciliation sentiment among former perpetrators of violence during the Colombian armed conflict

López

Rincón

Marín

et al. 2018

Conflict Resolution Qtrly

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This study assessed reconciliation sentiment among former members of Colombian paramilitary and guerilla groups. A total of 103 participants who were detained in rehabilitation centers were presented with an augmented version of the Reconciliation Sentiment Questionnaire. Overall, participants considered that they had achieved some measure of reconciliation with the people they harmed. Most viewed themselves as able to control their nervousness and impulses in situations in which victims were physically present or victims were simply evoked, and most felt sure, to a reasonable extent, that victims did not intend to seek vengeance. Nevertheless, a minoritymostly former members of the guerillas and detainees who did not attend rehabilitation programs-was not sure that acts of vengeance would not be attempted. A majority of participants was, to some extent, willing to trust and cooperate with former victims and probably the society at large. Only two, however, were totally convinced that it would be possible to do so.

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“…These dynamics are common to many DDR processes, as in Mozambique, South Africa, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Cambodia (Knight and Özerdem ). Veterans might be more prone to such behaviors because of their recent history of violence and the criminalization of demobilized wartime networks by former high‐ and mid‐ranking commanders (Daly, Paler, and Samii ; Nussio ; Themnér ).…”

Section: Do Peace Missions Boost Criminal Violence?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Peacekeepers against Criminal Violence—Unintended Effects of Peacekeeping Operations?

Salvatore

2019

American J Political Sci

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Research shows that peacekeepers reduce conflict intensity; however, effects of deployment on nonpolitical violence are unknown. This article focuses on criminal violence and proposes a twofold mechanism to explain why peacekeeping missions, even when effectively reducing conflict, can inadvertently increase criminal violence. First, less conflict opens up economic opportunities (so-called peacekeeping economies) and provides operational security for organized crime, thus increasing violent competition among criminal groups. Second, demobilized combatants are vulnerable to turn to crime because of limited legal livelihood opportunities and their training in warfare. While UN troops may exacerbate these dynamics, UN police's peculiar role is likely to successfully contain criminal violence. Cross-national and subnational empirical analyses show that large UN military deployments result in higher homicide rates, whereas UN police, overall, moderate this collateral effect.

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Former Military Networks and the Micro-Politics of Violence and Statebuilding in Liberia

Cited by 33 publications

References 0 publications

Conflict-related Sexual Violence and Rebel Group Fragmentation

Conflict-related Sexual Violence and Rebel Group Fragmentation

Reconciliation sentiment among former perpetrators of violence during the Colombian armed conflict

Peacekeepers against Criminal Violence—Unintended Effects of Peacekeeping Operations?

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