Asymmetry, Parity, and (Civil) War: Can International Theories of Power Help Us Understand Civil War?
Peer-reviewed Journal Article
Butler, Christopher K. & Scott Gates (2009) Asymmetry, Parity, and (Civil) War: Can International Theories of Power Help Us Understand Civil War?, International Interactions 35(3): 330–340.
Download Reviewed, pre-typeset version
.pdf
This is the Reviewed, pre-typeset version of the article. The final, definitive version can be found at the journal’s website. This publication may be subject to copyright: please visit the publisher’s website for details. All rights reserved.
The concept of relative power is ubiquitous and long-held in understanding conflict. As a ratio of the weaker side’s capabilities compared to the stronger side’s capabilities, relative power ranges from extreme asymmetry (where the weaker side has almost no capabilities) to parity (where the capabilities of the two sides are equal). Power theories link relative power to international outcomes, especially armed conflict. In this essay, we examine the applicability of power theories to civil armed conflicts, involving a government and a rebel group.
Read the article here
Authors
Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of New Mexico