Monica Duffy Toft is Professor of International Politics and founding Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Tufts University's Fletcher School. She is the author of ten books including, with Sidita Kushi, Dying by the Sword.

• Chapter 1: Why civil wars matter


• Chapter 2: What is a civil war?


• Chapter 3: Causes of civil war


• Chapter 4: Consequences


• Chapter 5: Transnational effects


• Chapter 6: External involvement


• Chapter 7: Ending civil wars


• Chapter 8: The past, present, and future of civil wars


• References


• Further reading


• Index

Civil wars are the most common form of large-scale political violence. They are usually nasty, brutish, and long. Their causes are complex; ranging from fights over access to housing, jobs, and arable land or other resources, to political contests over offices, rights, and representation.
Monica Duffy Toft explains how the study of civil wars has evolved, from in-depth, one-off case studies, to sophisticated statistical analysis and formal modeling. Although much of the actual fighting in civil wars remains the same, other factors have changed; including the actions of the international community.