Is less more after civil war? Examining the impact of rebel group cohesiveness on the post-conflict state-building trajectory defined by order

Sammanfattning: Why some civil wars end for good and others start up again is a complex question that inhibits many factors. This thesis argues, that the cohesiveness of rebel groups is one of the important ones in the post-conflict phase. During civil war the rebel groups can build up their political, military, and societal profile. In the aftermath of a civil war, this profile becomes one of the deciding factors that impacts the post-conflict order. Should rebels exhibit no cohesiveness or infighting with other groups, the war will likely continue. However, should they keep their cohesiveness, this could have a positive impact on the state-building trajectory. This thesis finds evidence for a connection between rebel group cohesiveness and the keeping of order in the post-conflict society. The primary cases for these observations are El Salvador and the FMLN, and Uganda and the NRA. The former was able to overcome tensions and able to keep the peace, while the latter lost its cohesiveness and struggled with several civil wars ever since.