What is a Civil War? A Critical Review of its Definition and (Econometric) Consequences

50 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Mark Gersovitz

Mark Gersovitz

Johns Hopkins University - Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Norma Kriger

Government of the United States of America - Library of Congress

Date Written: April 1, 2013

Abstract

The authors argue that the academic literature, both qualitative and quantitative, has mislabeled most episodes of large-scale violence in Africa as civil war; these episodes better fit their concept of regional war complexes. The paper seeks to highlight the fundamental flaws in the conception of civil war in the econometric literature and their implications for econometric specification and estimation, problems that this literature is inherently incapable of rectifying. The authors advocate the comparative study of regional war complexes in Africa based on historical narratives.

Keywords: Post Conflict Reconstruction, Peace & Peacekeeping, Post Conflict Reintegration, International Affairs, Hazard Risk Management

Suggested Citation

Gersovitz, Mark and Kriger, Norma, What is a Civil War? A Critical Review of its Definition and (Econometric) Consequences (April 1, 2013). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 6397, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2244740

Mark Gersovitz (Contact Author)

Johns Hopkins University - Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences ( email )

Department of Economics
Baltimore, MD 21218
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Norma Kriger

Government of the United States of America - Library of Congress ( email )

101 Independence Ave
Washington, DC 20540
United States

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