Rivalry and Revenge

'Using original data collected from Spanish archives, Balcells studies why and where Republicans and Falangists killed civilians during the three years of the Spanish Civil War that cost half a million lives. Her highly original and convincing argument re-introduces politics proper into the burgeoning research on violence against civilians. She shows that both groups killed civilians, where it was strategically most useful, where it could possibly tilt the local balance of power to one side or the other, thus laying the ground for post-war political dominance. Masterfully executed and concisely argued, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the micro-dynamics of civil wars and violence.' Andreas Wimmer, Columbia University, New York 'A riveting account of the role of rivalry and revenge in civil war, this book goes beyond contestation and military or organizational factors to present civil war as an extension of politics and emotions. Balcells highlights the salience of prewar political mobilization and that of wartime victimization in her compelling explanation of the dynamics of conflict and violence. This is undoubtedly an all-time classic work on the Spanish Civil War, a conflict that shaped contemporary Europe and still holds important lessons for other wars raging in the world today, such as Syria and Libya.' Fotini Christia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 'Despite so much excellent research on civil war, we have failed to explain one of its most alarming features - the extent of violence directed at civilians. Understanding this phenomenon is extraordinarily important today, where the headlines abound with civilian victimization. Laia Balcells' in-depth research offers and tests a political theory that takes seriously the interactions among local populations and the occupying military forces as they use their powers strategically for vengeance, yes, but also to prepare for a post-war world that can realize the dreams of the warriors. Rivalry and Revenge offers real guidance for making sense of so much of what we now see before us.' Margaret Levi, Stanford University , California