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Up in arms! Explaining why ethnic minority organizations form militias in transitioning and post-communist Eurasian countries1

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  • Victor Asal

    (University at Albany, SUNY, USA)

  • Bryan R. Early

    (University at Albany, SUNY, USA)

  • Marcus Schulzke

    (University of Leeds, UK)

Abstract

The decision by ethnic minority organizations (EMOs) to form militias is heavily influenced by the specific policies that governments adopt towards them. We theorize that, when a government makes an EMO illegal or subjects it to repression, those actions substantially increase the EMO s incentives to invest in creating an institutionalized capacity for violence. We test our theory via a quantitative analysis of militia formation using a sample population of 261 EMOs within transitioning and post-communist Eurasian countries from 1989 to 2006. Our results indicate that EMOs are far more likely to form militias if they have been repressed and/or made illegal by their governments.

Suggested Citation

  • Victor Asal & Bryan R. Early & Marcus Schulzke, 2017. "Up in arms! Explaining why ethnic minority organizations form militias in transitioning and post-communist Eurasian countries1," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 34(5), pages 485-506, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:compsc:v:34:y:2017:i:5:p:485-506
    DOI: 10.1177/0738894215600386
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    References listed on IDEAS

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