What Is a Civil War? A Critical Review of Its Definition and (Econometric) Consequences

Gersovitz, Mark; Kriger, Norma

doi:10.1093/wbro/lkt005

Publication: What Is a Civil War? A Critical Review of Its Definition and (Econometric) Consequences

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Date

2013-08-01

ISSN

1564-6971

Published

2013-08-01

Author(s)

Gersovitz, Mark

Kriger, Norma

Abstract

We argue that the academic literature, both qualitative and quantitative, has mislabeled most episodes of large-scale violence in Africa as civil wars; these episodes better fit our concept of regional war complexes. Our 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. We advocate the comparative study of regional war complexes in Africa based on historical narratives.

Citation

“Gersovitz, Mark; Kriger, Norma. 2013. What Is a Civil War? A Critical Review of Its Definition and (Econometric) Consequences. World Bank Research Observer. © Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/21428 License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO.”