Understanding Civil War: Insights from Academia
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Exploring the intricacies of civil wars, this overview discusses academic definitions, thresholds for classification, historical occurrences, and the application of the Geneva Conventions. It delves into the criteria set by scholars like James Fearon and Stathis Kalyvas, the debate on casualty counts for defining civil wars, and the ICRC's criteria for applying humanitarian laws during such conflicts.
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Understanding Civil War: Insights from Academia
Civil war, as defined by scholars, is a form of high-intensity conflict that occurs within the boundaries of a single country. James Fearon of Stanford University describes it as a struggle for power at the national or regional level, or for policy changes, waged by organized groups. Stathis Kalyvas views it similarly, emphasizing that it takes place within a sovereign state and involves parties that were under a single authority when the conflict began. Ann Hironaka further clarifies that the state itself must be one of the combatants. These definitions collectively highlight the internal nature of civil wars, the organization of the conflicting parties, and their political goals.Delineating Civil War: Academic Thresholds
The academic community debates the criteria for labeling a conflict as a civil war. A common threshold is a minimum of 1,000 casualties, with some scholars adding that at least 100 deaths must occur on each side. The Correlates of War project, a comprehensive database for conflict research, considers conflicts with over 1,000 war-related deaths per year to be civil wars. This standard, while capturing many significant conflicts, may not account for those with fewer casualties but with profound political and social ramifications.Civil Wars in Historical Context
Research using the 1,000 casualties per year benchmark indicates that from 1816 to 1997, there were 213 civil wars, with the majority occurring post-1944. If the criterion is broadened to include conflicts with a cumulative total of 1,000 casualties, the number of civil wars between 1945 and 2007 rises to over 90, with 20 ongoing as of 2007. These statistics underscore the frequency of civil wars in recent history and underscore the necessity of comprehending their dynamics and impacts.The Geneva Conventions' Relevance to Civil War
The Geneva Conventions, which establish international law for wartime conduct, do not specifically define "civil war" but do cover "armed conflicts not of an international character," encompassing civil wars. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has provided guidance on how the Conventions apply to civil wars, noting the deliberately broad and flexible language used. The ICRC identifies several factors that determine the applicability of the Conventions, such as the presence of an organized military force in rebellion, territorial control, and adherence to the laws of war.ICRC Criteria for Applying Geneva Conventions in Civil Wars
The ICRC's commentary on the Geneva Conventions stipulates conditions for their application to civil wars. These include the existence of an organized military force with a command structure, operating within a defined territory, and the requirement for the legitimate government to engage the insurgents with regular military forces. The insurgents must also be recognized in some form as belligerents, exercise control over a population, and demonstrate a capacity to comply with the laws of war. These criteria are designed to ensure that humanitarian standards are upheld even amidst the turmoil of civil war.
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Definition of Civil War
High-intensity conflict within a single country
Civil war is a form of high-intensity conflict that takes place within the boundaries of a single country
Struggle for power or policy changes by organized groups
According to scholars, civil war is a struggle for power or policy changes waged by organized groups at the national or regional level
Involvement of the state as a combatant
The state itself must be one of the combatants in a civil war, as clarified by Ann Hironaka
Academic Thresholds for Civil War
Minimum number of casualties
The academic community debates the criteria for labeling a conflict as a civil war, with a common threshold being a minimum of 1,000 casualties
Additional criteria for casualties on each side
Some scholars add that at least 100 deaths must occur on each side for a conflict to be considered a civil war
Correlates of War project's definition of civil war
The Correlates of War project considers conflicts with over 1,000 war-related deaths per year to be civil wars
Historical Context of Civil Wars
Number of civil wars from 1816 to 1997
Research using the 1,000 casualties per year benchmark indicates that from 1816 to 1997, there were 213 civil wars
Increase in civil wars post-1944
The majority of civil wars occurred post-1944, according to research using the 1,000 casualties per year benchmark
Ongoing civil wars as of 2007
As of 2007, there were over 90 civil wars with a cumulative total of 1,000 casualties, with 20 of them still ongoing
Relevance of Geneva Conventions to Civil War
Coverage of "armed conflicts not of an international character"
The Geneva Conventions, which establish international law for wartime conduct, cover "armed conflicts not of an international character," including civil wars
International Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) guidance on applying the Conventions to civil wars
The ICRC has provided guidance on how the Geneva Conventions apply to civil wars, noting the deliberately broad and flexible language used
Factors determining the applicability of the Conventions to civil wars
The ICRC identifies several factors, such as the presence of an organized military force in rebellion and adherence to the laws of war, that determine the applicability of the Geneva Conventions to civil wars
Understanding Civil War: Insights from Academia
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00
______ from Stanford University characterizes civil war as a contest for control at the national or regional level.
James Fearon
01
Civil wars are conflicts where the state must be one of the ______, as explained by Ann Hironaka.
combatants
02
According to ______, civil wars occur within a sovereign state and involve groups previously under a unified authority.
Stathis Kalyvas
