Research Article

Greed versus Grievance in Contemporary Civil Wars in Africa

Volume: 4 Number: 1 June 30, 2025
Mohamed Alieu Bah , Foday Justice Jalloh *
TR EN

Greed versus Grievance in Contemporary Civil Wars in Africa

Abstract

Civil wars, as intrastate conflicts, play a significant role in contemporary debates within peace and conflict studies. The end of the Cold War marked a notable increase in the prevalence of these wars, particularly in the global south. While academic scholars have highlighted the destructive nature and human impacts of these conflicts, they have also developed theories to explain their underlying causes. One prominent theory is the “Greed and Grievance” theory, in which Collier and Hoeffler investigate whether civil wars arise from motivations rooted in greed or grievances. Although various theories have been employed to analyze post-Cold War civil wars, there is an ongoing debate about the relevance of theories like greed and grievance in explaining contemporary conflicts. This study uses the Central African Republic (CAR), South Sudan, and Sudan as case studies to explore this issue. We contend that greed and grievance theory continues to be pertinent in understanding modern civil wars.

Keywords

Civil wars , Greed and Grievance , Cold War , Contemporary Armed Conflicts

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APA
Bah, M. A., & Jalloh, F. J. (2025). Greed versus Grievance in Contemporary Civil Wars in Africa. Bölge Çalışmaları Dergisi, 4(1), 113-129. https://izlik.org/JA99LE87KD