Things Fall Apart: The 'End Game' Dynamics of Internal Wars

Abstract

Most internal wars end on the battlefield. In comparison to inter-state conflicts, a relatively small percentage of these fights are concluded at the negotiating table. While significant attention has been given to how and why internal wars begin and even how they begin to evolve, little attention has been given to how they are concluded. What research has been done on this subject has focused on the problems that stand in the way of achieving a negotiated outcome, not how these conflicts are resolved by force. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the dynamics of the end game struggle and the differing ways in which states and insurgencies “win” and “lose” internal wars.