About the Book

The book contests the reduction of African civil wars to ethnic conflict, and point out the emergence of civil war as the result of political struggles.

Book Synopsis

The two main arguments in the book are to contest the reduction of African civil wars to ethnic conflicts, and to point out the emergence of civil wars as the result of political struggles. The construction of Africa as the "other" has entailed that factors commonly used to explain war elsewhere have been neglected in Sub-Saharan Africa. The book aims at bringing the political power struggle as it evolves around the state to the forefront in analyses of civil wars and societal conflict.

Review Quotes

..".this work has much to offer, from rich case studies, to thoughtful meditation..."--African Studies Review, Scott Straus


."..this work has much to offer, from rich case studies, to thoughtful meditation..."--African Studies Review, Scott Straus


.,."this work has much to offer, from rich case studies, to thoughtful meditation..."--African Studies Review, Scott Straus


..."this work has much to offer, from rich case studies, to thoughtful meditation..."--African Studies Review, Scott Straus

About the Author

Einar Braathen was previously Research Fellow at the Research Council of Norway University of Bergen. He works for the Comparative Research Programmee on Poverty (CROP) and the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR).

Morten Bøås is Research Fellow at the Centre for Development and the Environment - University of Olso.

Gjermund Sæther is a political scientist and former University Lecturer at the Eurofaculty - University of Tartu. He joined the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomatic trainee and is currently posted in Vienna.