Negotiated Settlements and Government Strategy in Civil War: Evidence from Darfur

Author: Johnston, Patrick

Source: Civil Wars, Volume 9, Number 4, December 2007 , pp. 359-377(19)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

This article examines how governments can use peace processes to advance their political interests and improve their prospects for future counterinsurgency operations. It argues that governments devise strategies to co-opt rebel factions in negotiated settlements, conditional on their support in counterinsurgency and intelligence provision against non-signatory factions. By dividing and weakening non-signatory factions, this strategy allows governments simultaneously to preserve their international reputation by cooperating in peace processes and to enhance their relative capabilities in future rounds of counterinsurgency. A detailed case study of the Sudanese government's strategy in the Darfur civil war demonstrates the argument's plausibility.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13698240701699466

Publication date: 2007-12-01