ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 investigates the transformation of armed opposition groups into post-rebel electoral parties. In the post-Cold War period, international peacebuilders believed that addressing political aspirations of rebel groups by facilitating their inclusion in electoral politics could promote long-lasting peace. This chapter demonstrates that the majority of rebel groups formed a political party and sought to participate in electoral politics, even long after the Cold War. Using an original dataset, Chapter 2 shows that party formation happens in a diverse set of post-war environments. These groups often see formation as a low-cost strategy they can adopt to further their political goals. The chapter finds that organizational attributes play a greater role than domestic political environment in shaping a group’s decisions about whether to invest in electoral politics by forming a party.
