When states implode: The correlates of Africa's civil wars, 1950-92

This article provides a systematic analysis of the extent to which politica l, economic, and cultural factors are associated with civil wars in sub-Sah aran African states. Drawing on a theoretical argument that associates the likelihood of civil war with the tumult that arises from the simultaneous c hallenges of state building and nation building, several testable propositi ons are derived on the correlates of African civil wars. Results of logisti c regression analyses indicate that previous colonial experience is a signi ficant predictor to the likelihood of civil wars. It is also found that eco nomic development reduces the probability of civil war while militarization increases it. Regime type played no significant role in African civil wars . Similarly, no support was found for the thesis that cultural factors are significantly associated with African civil war, which belies the notion th at African civil wars are simply "ethnic conflicts." It appears that politi co-economic factors--instead of cultural ones--give rise to civil wars in A frica.