Exit from war: The transformation of rebels into post-war power elites. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hensell, Stephan; Gerdes, Felix
• Is Part Of: Security dialogue. Volume 48:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 184
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Elites -- Kosovo -- Liberia -- political sociology -- rebels -- social capital; Security, International -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0967010616677713
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-0106

Abstract

The reintegration of rebels after war is a key security challenge. This article analyses the post-war transformation of rebels as a process of joining the established political elite. The political careers of former rebels vary. While some rise to senior political positions, others fail to consolidate their power. Taking theoretical notions of Pierre Bourdieu as its point of departure, this article outlines the central role of social capital in the post-war political field, which allows for an analysis and explanation of differences in rebel inclusion and exclusion. The article argues that the political careers of rebels are dependent on the accumulation of vertical and horizontal social capital in elite–mass and intra-elite networks. Case studies of Liberia and Kosovo demonstrate the plausibility of our thesis and the fruitfulness of a Bourdieusian approach in studying the political transformation of armed groups. This article contributes to the debate on the post-war reintegration of rebels as well as to the debate on practice approaches in international relations and security studies.