Why Using One-Sided Violence in Civil Wars? A Theoretical Argumentation Attempt on Strategic Logic

Yıl 2018, Sayı: 1, 207 - 240, 20.06.2018

Ayla Akdoğan

Öz

Most of the research on one-sided violence focused on factors that have an effect on the targeting of civilians, which were selected on account of the clarity of their definitions, characteristics that can be differentiated from the other factors, the ease with which they can be studied, as well as their recognizability. Some of the factors researched will be briefly discussed and the most important ones, which are central to this study, examined in detail. One-sided violence against civilians is not a rare occurrence. Studies have found that actors -most of which are state actors- adopt strategies that target civilians or inflict civilian mass killings in one-fifth to onethird of wars (Arreguín-Toft, 2001, 2005; Valentino et al., 2004; Downes, 2006a, 2008). According to Downes (2008: 1), despite the fruitful literature that has emerged in the last decade to explain the causes of civilian targeting (e.g., Kalyvas, 1999, 2004, 2006; Valentino, 2004; Valentino et al., 2004; Valentino et al., 2006; Mann, 2005; Weinstein, 2007; Downes, 2006a, 2006b, 2008), the effectiveness of civilian victimization for achieving belligerents’ war objectives remains fairly understudied. Much of this new literature on the causes of civilian victimization suggests that, at least in some circumstances, targeting civilians has a positive utility or that leaders often believe it does.

Anahtar Kelimeler

One-Sided Violence, Civil War, Strategic Logic, Military Strength, Revenge

Why Using One-Sided Violence in Civil Wars? A Theoretical Argumentation Attempt on Strategic Logic

Öz

Most
of the research on one-sided violence focused on factors that have an effect on
the targeting of civilians, which were selected on account of the clarity of
their definitions, characteristics that can be differentiated from the other
factors, the ease with which they can be studied, as well as their
recognizability. Some of the factors researched will be briefly discussed and
the most important ones, which are central to this study, examined in detail. One-sided violence against civilians is not a rare occurrence. Studies have found that actors -most of which are state actors- adopt strategies that target civilians or inflict civilian mass killings in one-fifth to onethird of wars (Arreguín-Toft, 2001, 2005; Valentino et al., 2004; Downes, 2006a, 2008). According to Downes (2008: 1), despite the fruitful literature that has emerged in the last decade to explain the causes of civilian targeting (e.g., Kalyvas, 1999, 2004, 2006; Valentino, 2004; Valentino et al., 2004; Valentino et al., 2006; Mann, 2005; Weinstein, 2007; Downes, 2006a, 2006b, 2008), the effectiveness of civilian victimization for achieving belligerents’ war objectives remains fairly understudied. Much of this new literature on the causes of civilian victimization suggests that, at least in some circumstances, targeting civilians has a positive utility or that leaders often believe it does. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

One-Sided Violence, Civil War, Strategic Logic, Military Strength

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