Governing After War: Rebel Victories and Post-war Statebuilding

Governing After War explores how wartime processes affect post-war state-building efforts when rebels win a civil war and come into power. It examines wartime rebel-civilian ties under rebel governance and how these ties shape the rebel victors post-war resource allocation strategies to establish control at the sub-national level. The book relies on mixed-methods evidence from Zimbabwe and Liberia and compares them to four additional civil wars in Burundi, Rwanda, Côte d Ivoire, and Angola. Its central insights point to war and peace as part of a long state-building process and suggest that the international community should pay attention to sub-national political constraints that new governments face.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Governing After War delves into the profound impact of wartime processes on post-war state-building endeavors, particularly in the context of rebels assuming power after a civil war. While the cessation of violence may mark the end of the war, the victorious party must embark on a challenging journey to consolidate its control over the state through a process known as internal conquest. This entails making crucial decisions regarding the allocation of resources, both in terms of development and security. Where does the victorious party direct its resources, and why? These choices hold significant implications for the ultimate consolidation of power and the prevention of conflict recurrence.

The book explores the intricate dynamics between wartime rebels and civilians under rebel governance, shedding light on how these relationships and governing institutions shape the post-war strategies of the rebel victors. It examines the various resource allocation strategies employed by these victors to establish control at the sub-national level. By successfully balancing resources dedicated to development and security, the victorious party can consolidate power and foster stability.

The book relies on a comprehensive mix of evidence, drawing from interviews, focus groups, archival data, fine-grained census, administrative, survey, and conflict datasets. This multi-method approach allows for an in-depth examination of subnational variations in wartime rebel behavior and post-war governing strategies. A comparative analysis of Zimbabwe and Liberia alongside four additional civil wars in Burundi, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Angola further highlights the importance of wartime civilian tie-formation for post-war control.

The central insights of the book revolve around the interconnectedness of war and peace as part of a long state-building process. It emphasizes the need for the international community to pay close attention to the sub-national political constraints that new governments face. The findings of the study offer valuable implications for recent rebel victories and, more broadly, for understanding the dynamics of state-building in post-conflict contexts.

Weight: 636g
Dimension: 161 x 243 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197696705