Quantile via Moments Panel Data Analysis: Dissecting Political Regimes and the Spectrum of Internal Conflicts

Abstract This study investigates whether the political regime affects internal conflicts and specific types (e.g., civil war, political violence, and civil disorder). The study reveals that even incremental movements toward democracy are associated with reduced internal conflict, challenging some elements of the inverted U hypothesis. Moreover, factors such as government stability are better indicators of smaller-scale forms of internal conflict than the political regime type. Finally, scenarios of acute internal conflict, cultural tension, and government instability serve as more reliable indicators, implying that these elements eclipse the stabilizing influence of a regime's progression toward a more inclusive government.