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Segmentary Lineage Organization and Conflict in Sub‐Saharan Africa

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  • Jacob Moscona
  • Nathan Nunn
  • James A. Robinson
Abstract
We test the longstanding hypothesis that ethnic groups organized around “segmentary lineages” are more prone to conflict. Ethnographic accounts suggest that in such societies, which are characterized by strong allegiances to distant relatives, individuals are obligated to come to the aid of fellow lineage members when they become involved in conflicts. As a consequence, small disagreements often escalate into larger‐scale conflicts involving many individuals. We test for a link between segmentary lineage organization and conflict across ethnic groups in sub‐Saharan Africa. Using a number of estimation strategies, including a regression discontinuity design at ethnic boundaries, we find that segmentary lineage societies experience more conflicts, and particularly ones that are retaliatory, long in duration, and large in scale.

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  • Jacob Moscona & Nathan Nunn & James A. Robinson, 2020. "Segmentary Lineage Organization and Conflict in Sub‐Saharan Africa," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 88(5), pages 1999-2036, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:emetrp:v:88:y:2020:i:5:p:1999-2036
    DOI: 10.3982/ECTA16327
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    7. Depetris-Chauvin, Emilio & Özak, Ömer, 2019. "Borderline Disorder: (De facto) Historical Ethnic Borders and Contemporary Conflict in Africa," MPRA Paper 110197, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Sep 2021.
    8. Massimo Morelli & Laura Ogliari & Long Hong, 2023. "Power Mismatch and Civil Conflict:An Empirical Investigation," Working Papers 703, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    9. Zhang, Yu & Xu, Zhicheng Phil & Kibriya, Shahriar, 2021. "The long-term effects of the slave trade on political violence in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 776-800.
    10. Depetris-Chauvin, Emilio & Özak, Ömer, 2023. "(De facto) Historical Ethnic Borders and Contemporary Conflict in Africa," MPRA Paper 116868, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Chen, Zhiwu & Lin, Zhan & Zhang, Xiaoming, 2024. "Hedging desperation: How kinship networks reduced cannibalism in historical China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 361-382.
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    13. Paz, Santiago, 2023. "Long Run Consequences of Ethnic Conflict On Social Capital: Evidence from South Africa," Documentos CEDE 20923, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    14. Maxwell Mkondiwa, 2020. "Mancala board games and origins of entrepreneurship in Africa," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-23, October.
    15. Bahrami-Rad, Duman, 2021. "Keeping it in the family: Female inheritance, inmarriage, and the status of women," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
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