So you want to play with magic? : How organized armed groups’ belief in magic affects the prevalence of sexual violence

Sammanfattning

A well-researched question in peace and conflict literature is why sexual violence against civilians is a common feature of many armed conflicts, though substantial variation exists in how and when armed groups employ it. Existing research points to factors such as ideology, recruitment practices and strategic incentives, but this thesis argues the role of belief in magic remains underexplored. Positioned somewhere in between religion and ideology, this paper examines whether belief in magic helps explain patterns of sexual violence among rebel groups. Three possible mechanisms are proposed. First, belief in magic may attract opportunistic recruits who are hard to control, increasing the likelihood of violence against civilians. Second, belief in magic may diminish feelings of responsibility and alleviate the mental burden for violent acts. Third, some groups may believe sexual violence enhances magical powers. Using a newly released dataset and a quantitative approach, the analysis tests the relationship between belief in magic and sexual violence by rebel groups. Though the findings are mixed, the results suggest supernatural belief systems may help shape patterns of (sexual) violence against civilians. Thus, belief in magic deserves greater attention in research on armed conflict.