August 18th, 2006

CISAC researchers consulted on civil war causes

The commonplace assumption that a more homogeneous society is a more peaceful society certainly sounds reasonable. But a growing body of work suggests this thinking is false. CISAC civil war experts James D. Fearon and David Laitin came to a startling finding, in their sweeping 2003 study: "it appears not to be true that a greater degree of ethnic or religious diversity--or indeed any particular cultural demography--by itself makes a country more prone to civil war." Read more »

April 10th, 2006

Civil war definition transcends politics

Is the conflict in Iraq a civil war or not? Debate over this question is largely political. In this Washington Post op-ed, CISAC's James Fearon sets aside politics to explain the meaning of civil war and how it applies to Iraq. Read more »

February 28th, 2006

Iraq now - headed for civil war or already there?

Is civil war likely to break out in Iraq? It already has, according to CISAC faculty member James D. Fearon, a political science professor who studies recent civil wars. "By any reasonable definition," Fearon said, "there has been a civil war in progress in Iraq at least since the Coalition Provisional Authority formally handed over authority to the Iraqis in 2004." Fearon is among four experts Time asked to comment on what's going on in Iraq. Read more »