Springer Civil Wars and Third-Party Interventions in Africa

This book explores the impact and efficiency of Western intervention in African civil wars. Emphasizing the relational conditions to the study of interventions, it posits the importance of historical, institutional relationships not just in the decision to intervene but also in the process of intervention and its outcome. Drawing from case studies of American and European intervention in Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali, the author applies a multi-method research design to identify the role colonial legacy plays in shaping the success of interventions. Her analysis concludes that the relational context of interventions helps determine the likelihood of success and that not all states are appropriately equipped to intervene in all civil wars, which is not simply a function of defense spending on materials. This book thus speaks to both academics and policy-makers specializing in conflict resolution and conflict dynamics in modern African civil wars. Review “Interventions in civil wars are ubiquitous. Mattoon provides a fascinating and rigorous comparative analysis of the important role of colonial relationships in the success of interventions. A must reading for students of civil war.” (Gary Goertz, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, USA) “Audrey Mattoon demonstrates how much can be gained from the articulation of case studies and QCA: shedding new light on specific, historical cases while at the same time producing more general findings with high theoretical and policy relevance. Both scholars and policymakers interested in the effectiveness of military interventions in post-colonial regions will learn a lot from this compelling volume.” (Benoît Rihoux, Full Professor, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium and Coordinator of COMPASSS international network (compasss.org)) “A smart, unique, and timely perspective on military intervention in civil war. Dr. Mattoon’s detailed consideration about what makes a successful third-party intervention raises important issues for policy makers and state actors considering intervention as well as the general public. In this time of global insecurity and increased civil war violence, these observations advance the study of civil war and prompt critical thinking about who is best equipped to successfully intervene in these conflicts.” (Renée Edwards, Senior Researcher, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, USA) About the Author Audrey Mattoon is Research Associate for the Employment and Education Research Center at the School of Management and Labor Relations of Rutgers University, USA. She earned her doctorate at Washington State University, USA. Her primary research interest is the role of institutional interaction in the achievement of policy.