The Effectiveness of Indiscriminate Violence During Civil War

Why does states’ use of indiscriminate violence against civilians during civil wars weaken some insurgencies but strengthen others? Much of the existing literature argues that state indiscriminate violence is counterproductive because it increases civilians’ willingness to support the insurgency. By mobilizing civilians to support the insurgency, indiscriminate violence risks increasing insurgent recruitment, attacks, and territorial control. However, devastation from indiscriminate violence also exhausts civilians’ ability to provide support.