How do communal conflicts interact with civil war dynamics? And how does this interaction of different types of armed conflict shape violence against civilians? This paper analyzes geographic spread and temporary variation in communal violence and civil war dynamics in South Sudan (2011-2020).
Paper long abstract:
How do communal conflicts interact with civil war dynamics? And how does this interaction of different types of armed conflict shape violence against civilians? This paper analyzes geographic spread and temporary variation in communal violence and civil war dynamics in South Sudan (2011-2020). Scholars have long argued that communal conflicts, which are often referred to as ‘local conflicts’, need to be better integrated into the study of civil wars and violence against civilians. However, theoretical work explaining linkages between civil war and communal conflict is sparse to date. In this paper, I analyze variation in type of violence in South Sudan, where large-scale communal conflicts preceded and succeeded the civil war. My analysis relies on event data, document analysis and interviews conducted between 2017 and 2021 during fieldwork and online. I identify geographically distinct linkages between communal conflicts and the civil war based on state institutions, elite constellations, and the impact of local peace agreements. Based on these findings, the paper develops a typology of communal conflicts and civil war linkages.