External interventions and civil war intensity in South-Central Somalia (1991-2010)

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Periodical article

Title:	External interventions and civil war intensity in South-Central Somalia (1991-2010)
Author:	Sousa, Ricardo Real Pedrosa de
Year:	2014
Periodical:	Cadernos de Estudos Africanos (ISSN 2182-7400)
Issue:	28
Pages:	57-86
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Somalia
Subjects:	civil wars foreign intervention conflict resolution
External link:	https://journals.openedition.org/cea/1678
Abstract:	External interventions in conflicts are prescribed to be peace-promoting mechanisms, but their effects seldom de-escalate conflict intensity. Based on the balance of capabilities theory, this paper tests the effects that the type of intervention, military or diplomatic, and the target of the intervention, partisan or neutral, has on conflict intensity. In the case of Somalia, for the period 1991 to 2010, the results suggest that neutral interventions, either military (humanitarian) or diplomatic, can lead to lower conflict intensity, but if partisan and military they lead to higher conflict intensity. If partisan and diplomatic and provided to both sides of the conflict they have no effect on conflict intensity. The conclusion is that peace competes with other objectives of external interventions. [Journal abstract]