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To Kill or to Protect

Security Forces, Domestic Institutions, and Genocide

Bibliographic Data

ID6284403
AuthorsMichael Colaresi (0000-0001-9574-5723, Department of Political Science Michigan State University, East Lansing), Sonia C Carey (0000-0003-3286-0040, University of Nottingham), Sabine C Carey (School of Politics & International Relations University of Nottingham, United Kingdom)
Year2008
Volume52
Issue1
Pages39-67
Publication date2008-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022002707310427
OpenAlexW2009250552
LanguageEN
Citations received35
References cited35

Contemporary studies of genocide have found military capabilities to be inconsistent predictors of state-sponsored killings. We suggest that these empirical inconsistencies stem from the fact that government strength can serve two opposing purposes. Some level of armed capabilities is necessary for a state to remain viable and to provide internal and external security. Yet armed government personnel can be deployed to repress and destroy segments of the public. We identify conditions under which an executive is more likely to use security forces for private-interest killing rather than public protection. We hypothesize that unconstrained leaders are more likely to use their putative security forces to initiate genocide and remain in power. An analysis of state failures that lead to genocide robustly supports the idea that the effect of increased security forces on the risk of genocide is conditional on institutional executive constraints

Business · Computer security · Criminology · Economics · Genocide · Government (linguistics · International law · Law and economics · Political science · Public relations · Public security · Sociology · State (computer science · Use of force · Computer Science · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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Unique citing works35
Citations per year2,19
Citation span2010 - 2025 (16)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 35
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