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Militarized youths in western Côte d’Ivoire: local processes of mobilization,
demobilization, and related humanitarian interventions (2002-2007)
Chelpi, M.L.B.
Publication date 2011
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
Chelpi, M. L. B. (2011). Militarized youths in western Côte d’Ivoire: local processes of mobilization, demobilization, and related humanitarian interventions (2002-2007). African Studies Centre.
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Contents
List of maps, tables, figures and boxes ix
List of photographs x
Abbreviations xi
Foreword xiii
Acknowledgements xv
1 INTRODUCING THE STUDY 1
Research approach 3
Defining militarized youths 6
Structure of the book 8
2 METHODOLOGY 11
Methodological choices 12
Ethical considerations 19
3 SOME THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS 27
The paradox of post-conflict interventions 28
Some theoretical reflections on war and mobilization processes 37
Concluding remarks 49
4 A CONDUCIVE HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL TERRAIN TO THE MILITARIZATION OF CIVILIANS 51
From cosmopolitan politics to a politics of ethnic polarization 52
From the Coup to the war 62
2000-2010: a decade of FPI rule 67
The place of humanitarianism in Côte d’Ivoire 73
Concluding remarks 84
5 THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT 87
The general atmosphere: Chronology of violent events in the west(2002-2007) 88
Multi-ethnic agrarian societies 107
The fieldwork locations and the western humanitarian context 113
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6 ARMED FACTIONS OPERATING IN THE WEST 127
Counter-insurgent movements 128
Insurgent movements 136
Concluding remarks 141
7 MILITARIZED CIVILIANS:DIVERSITY OF TRAJECTORIES, DIVERSITY OF MOTIVES FOR ENLISTMENT 143
Who ‘took up’ arms in the west? 145
The specificities of the youngest recruits 151
What drove young civilians to military life? 152
Concluding remarks 161
8 BLURRED SPACES:MILITARIZED YOUTHS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT 165
Part-time recruits 166
Social relationships within the armed groups 168
The military-civilian nexus 176
The humanitarian-military nexus 182
Concluding remarks 185
9 RETURN TO CIVILIAN LIFE FOR MILITARIZED POPULATIONS: TWO STANDARD HUMANITARIAN INSTRUMENTS UNDER THE LENS 187
The global approach to reinsertion and reintegration 188
DDR in Côte d’Ivoire 194
Reinsertion under the lens: how were cash allowances spent? 198
Assessment of a pilot initiative fostering economic reinsertion 208
The specificities of the youngest recruits 220
Concluding remarks 223
10 CONCLUSIONS 225
The main empirical and conceptual findings 226
The step forward 235
Appendix 1: Chronology of violent events in the west (2002-2007) 237
Appendix 2: Checklist of individual interview guidelines 253
References 255
English summary 267
