Projekt

With the close of the Cold War, in the framework of what has been referred to as 'new wars', it has been argued that population pressure in the form of large youth cohorts, i.e. "youth bulges", increases a country's likelihood to experience armed conflict, in particular when these youth groups are excluded from political and economic participation. Indeed, the role of youth in violent conflicts has been in a sharp rise since the early 1990s, either as part of insurgent/rebellion movement, or as part of counterinsurgency/pro-governmental armed groups and militias. These new dynamics of war have led to a research boom and they have been the object of heated debates. What are the similarities and differences between armed rebellions and pro-governmental armed militias? How does the role of legitimacy influence the trajectory of armed militias? This research project on pro-governmental armed militias in Côte-d'Ivoire (2002-2011) aims at: 1. Demonstrating that theories on insurrectional rebellions are relevant for counter-insurgent or pro-governmental armed militias; 2. Highlighting the limits of material explanation of the emergence and evolution of armed militias; 3. Showing how reference to international norms and principles influences the legitimacy and trajectory of armed militias on the local level. 4. Showing how war is practiced as an opportunity by excluded youths from political participation to build their political careers or to negotiate better social status.

• Prof. Dr. Mamadou Diawara

  Universität Frankfurt am Main
  FB 08: Philosophie und Geschichtswissenschaften
  Institut für Ethnologie
  Frankfurt am Main
  

• Dr. Stefan Schmid

  Universität Frankfurt am Main
  Zentrum für interdisziplinäre
  Afrikaforschung (ZIAF)
  Campus Westend
  Frankfurt am Main
  

• Dr. Gnangadjomon Koné

  Swiss Center of Scientific Research
  (CSRS)
  Abidjan
  Elfenbeinküste (Côte d'Ivoire)