Identity and Child Soldiering
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2019-08-11
Language
en
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Abstract
The focus of research on child soldiers has been primarily on structural variables. This research
tends to extend the focus onto the characteristics of armed non-state actors by looking at the
identity foundations of these groups and their connection to child soldiering. This focus leads to a
theory-building effort on the demand side of child soldiering. large N studies are scarce on the topic
of child soldiering. By using a dataset containing 237 different armed non-state actors this thesis
also attempts to contribute to this gap of research on child soldiers. The research question for this
thesis is as followed; Does the role of identity within armed non-state actors influence the use of
child soldiers? This thesis looks at the three identities most common to conflict analysis; ethnicity,
religion and class-based ideology. The goal of an armed non-state actor and the strength of their
central command serve as control variables. The results indicate both foundations of ethnic
identities and class-based ideologies by an armed non-state actor influence an armed non-state
actors use of child soldiers. In contrast to the other identities in this research, this thesis finds no
significant effect of a religious foundation of an armed non-state actor and the use of child soldiers.
This thesis offers an argument as to why identity can matter, namely as a way to legitimize their
conflict and the necessity of using child soldiers. This argument, however, is unable to be tested in
this thesis. The main findings of this thesis indicate that in-depth research on these identities is
necessary, to understand the possible causal connection. Beyond this, this thesis argues that the
need for further research beyond structural variables in violent conflict is important and deserves
more academic attention.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen