Dissertation Project

What explains a variation in the fates of post-conflict countries? Why do some societies emerge from civil wars and successfully establish peaceful and functioning states while others are mired in conflict traps? My dissertation focuses on war-time governance activities that rebel groups engage in to understand the variations in post-civil war trajectory. I argue that wartime rebel governance increases the durability of peace after war. However, the nature of rebel governance varies depending on the extent to which it allows the involvement of civilians in governance. While some rebel groups permit local civilian participation in their governance, others impose strong restrictions on civilian involvement and establish rigid hierarchical structures. My dissertation underscores the importance of distinguishing between different forms of rebel governance - participatory and non-participatory governance.

While rebel governance, in general, may increase the durability of post-war peace, participatory governance is more likely to foster lasting peace after the war ends compared to non-participatory governance. I identify two mechanisms through which participatory governance can reduce the likelihood of conflict resumption: rebel political participation (such as running for elections) and civilian political participation (such as voting). First, participatory rebel governance influences the capability of rebel groups to become viable political players after war. The implementation of participatory governance depends on voluntary and continuous cooperation with the civilian population. Rebel groups that secure voluntary support during the war can better mobilize electoral support after war, which can facilitate post-conflict political participation of rebel groups. This, in turn, reduces the incentives of rebel groups to resort to violent means to influence policy, thereby effectively decreasing the likelihood of war recurrence. Moreover, rebel participatory governance facilitates civilian participation in conventional politics after the war, such as voting. This, in turn, diminishes the incentives of individuals to participate in armed violence, thereby reducing the likelihood of violent mobilization necessary to wage a war against the state. Using a mixed-method approach by employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, my dissertation underscores rebel governance, especially participatory governance, in the post-conflict peace process.