Why do some rebel groups forcibly recruit children while others largely refrain from using this strategy? We argue that it depends, in part, on their ability to profit from natural resources. Rebel... Show moreWhy do some rebel groups forcibly recruit children while others largely refrain from using this strategy? We argue that it depends, in part, on their ability to profit from natural resources. Rebel groups that earn funding from natural resources have less incentive to restrain abusive behavior such as the forced recruitment of children and more incentive to tolerate and even promote this recruitment strategy. To test our expectations, we collected new data on the level of forcible recruitment of children by rebel groups. This is distinct from the broader use of child soldiers, a significant portion of whom volunteer to join armed groups. We combined the information on forced recruitment with a recent data set on rebel groups’ exploitation of natural resources. Our analyses show that rebel groups that profit from natural resources are significantly more likely to forcibly recruit children than groups that do not exploit natural resources. Looking at specific characteristics, rebels that extract lootable resources are more likely to engage in the forced recruitment of children than groups that profit only from non-lootable resources or from no natural resources at all. The findings have important implications for our understanding of the relationship between rebels’ revenue streams and their engagement in human rights violations. Show less
My thesis analyzes the Mexican Drug Violence. This conflict follows partially the model of a so-called ‘new war’, post-modern conflicts in which armed groups merge with organized crime and... Show moreMy thesis analyzes the Mexican Drug Violence. This conflict follows partially the model of a so-called ‘new war’, post-modern conflicts in which armed groups merge with organized crime and deliberately create a situation of chaos and lawlessness. Actually, it has actually moved beyond that into a form of hybrid warfare: multidimensional, elusive, unpredictable and fought on many fronts with different weapons and intensities. The war being waged by radical Islam is another example of hybrid warfare. From an economic perspective, the cartels are extreme examples of predatory capitalist corporations that thrive in a neoliberal, globalized economy. Just as legal business, cartels face issues such as human resources, publicity and branding, corporate social responsibility, diversification and innovation. From an anthropological point of view, I investigate the motivations of the actors who engage in criminal activities and extreme cruelty. There are remarkable similar mechanism how people are being taught to kill and I compare Mexican professional assassins with West-African child soldiers and Western Jihadists. Extreme acts of violence beyond the instrumental are often called ‘senseless’. However, this closes the door for investigation. There is a logic and meaning behind ‘inhumane’ violence that is in fact part of the repertoire of human behavior. Show less
