ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8217-9475
Date of Award
5-8-2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Despite the prevalent notion that armed groups must win the “hearts and minds” of civil- ians, there has been insufficient systematic investigation into the determinants of civilian willingness to assist armed groups and such support’s effects on the conflict. This disser- tation rigorously analyzes the mechanisms driving civilians to provide material, logistical, medical, and financial support to state forces, and assesses how this assistance can mitigate the duration of violent episodes. To offer a comprehensive examination of civilian wartime assistance, and conceptualize civilians as pivotal actors in conflict scenarios, I develop a series of papers that employ both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to assess the underly- ing motivations and consequent behaviors of civilians during armed conflicts. Together, my dissertation advances our understanding of the microdynamics of conflict by addressing three key questions in the literature: 1) why civilians participate in high-risk activities during war, 2) how violence can unintentionally result in more resilient communities, and 3) why armed groups prioritize civilian support. My research proposes that civilians’ emotional responses to violence play a critical role in their decisions to provide assistance, and thereby progresses our burgeoning understanding of the intersection between political psychology and conflict dynamics.
Language
English (en)
Chair and Committee
Margit Tavits
Committee Members
Carly Wayne; Deniz Aksoy; Diana O'Brien; Jakana Thomas
Recommended Citation
Damann, Taylor Jane, "Non-Violent Mobilization in Violent Conflict: Explaining Civilian Assistance to Armed Groups" (2025). Arts & Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 3530.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/art_sci_etds/3530