Governance through brokerage: informal governance in post-civil war societies. Issue 3 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Themnér, Anders; Utas, Mats
• Is Part Of: Civil wars. Volume 18:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 255
• Page End: 280
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: Civil war -- Periodicals; War -- Periodicals; Ethnic relations -- Periodicals; 355.021805
• DOI: 10.1080/13698249.2016.1215639
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8249

Abstract

Abstract: There is currently a lack of knowledge about how elites rule post-civil war societies without strong state institutions. This paper argues that elites oftentimes overcome such institutional deficiencies by engaging in governance through brokerage. According to this perspective, elites outsource central state functions to influential broker figures. This is particularly true when dealing with war-affected groups that possess much violent agency. By functioning as social membranes, brokers can help elites and war-affected groups to redefine a new social contract. Liberia is employed as an example to illustrate the paper's central arguments.