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Sending peace home?! The effect of political favoritism on conflict

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Kammerlander

    (University of Freiburg)

  • Kerstin Unfried

    (Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine)

Abstract

Bringing the model by Choi (2014) to a spatial context, we investigate and assess the link between political favoritism and internal conflict. In particular, we compare the difference in the likelihood and intensity of conflict between regions in which citizens reside that belong to identity groups of political leaders and others over time in a global sample. Combining geo-coded conflict data with self-gathered information on the birthplaces and ethnic affiliation of 836 political national leaders and using a two-way fixed effects model with region and country-year fixed effects, we find that regions experience 10% fewer casualties while they constitute the birth region of the national leader in autocracies. We also find evidence for ethnic favoritism. Our analysis indicates that autocratic leaders use political favoritism (in armed forces) and other coup-proofing strategies to remain in power that reduce the intensity of conflict in their homelands.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Kammerlander & Kerstin Unfried, 2022. "Sending peace home?! The effect of political favoritism on conflict," HiCN Working Papers 378, Households in Conflict Network.
    • Handle: RePEc:hic:wpaper:378
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    political favoritism; identity politics; conflict; geo-data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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