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The Effect of Civil Society Organizations and Democratization Aid on Civil War Onset

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  • Jessica Maves Braithwaite
  • Amanda Abigail Licht

Abstract

A growing literature identifies both situations where aid promotes peace and those where aid encourages violence. Specifically, research shows lower probability of conflict onset in democratizing states receiving high levels of democracy assistance. However, theorizing has overlooked important actors who have agency in spending such aid: civil society organizations (CSOs). We posit that the status of civil society within recipient states conditions the effect of democracy aid inflows on conflict probability. Using an instrumental variables approach to account for endogeneity between aid allocation and conflict propensity, we find that democracy aid is destabilizing when directed to environments where CSOs are weak and poorly connected to the regime and thus are less willing and able to seek change through peaceful means. When civil society is stronger and more institutionalized, however, larger democracy aid flows pose less threat.

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  • Jessica Maves Braithwaite & Amanda Abigail Licht, 2020. "The Effect of Civil Society Organizations and Democratization Aid on Civil War Onset," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 64(6), pages 1095-1120, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:64:y:2020:i:6:p:1095-1120
    DOI: 10.1177/0022002719888684
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Koppenberg, Maximilian & Mishra, Ashok K. & Hirsch, Stefan, 2023. "Food aid and violent conflict: A review and Empiricist’s companion," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    2. Lewis, Janet I., 2023. "Rebel group formation in Africa: Evidence from a new dataset," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    3. Koppenberg, Maximilian & Mishra, Ashok K. & Hirsch, Stefan, 2023. "Food Aid and Violent Conflict: A Review of Literature," IZA Discussion Papers 16574, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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