Just published in Theory and Society: Do civil wars make or break states? Towards a historical sociology of intra-state conflicts

Abstract The key representatives of the bellicist approach in historical sociology argue that the wars between states have been the central catalyst of state formation. Furthermore, they insist that, unlike inter-state wars, civil wars generally do not engender state formation. Civil wars are usually understood to be highly destructive to the process of state-building. In this article, I question the view that civil wars are always harmful to the development of state apparatuses. Instead, I argue that civil wars, just as inter-state wars, can make or break states. I identify four main factors that can make civil wars into successful state builders: a conclusive and total war victory, the political neutralisation of the hostile opposition, the successful curbing of ethnic factionalism, and the presence of continuous economic growth. I illustrate my argument with the numerous historical examples of civil wars throughout the world.