On the Logistics of Violence

This chapter explores how logistical costs shape the quantity and quality of violence against civilians. I distinguish between two types of supply systems: a reliance on local resources obtained from within a conflict zone, and external resources shipped from outside. All else equal, the intensity of violence against civilians should be greater where external resources are available at relatively low cost. As the costs of obtaining external resources rise ? due to poor infrastructure or sabotage ? violence against civilians should decline. I evaluate the empirical evidence for these claims using disaggregated data on 58 low-intensity conflicts since 1997, and archival data on Stalin?s Great Terror and killings of civilians by Nazi Germany in World War II.