Civil Wars

Aims & Scope

Civil Wars publishes original scholarship on all aspects of intrastate conflict, including its causes and nature, and the factors which help to explain its onset, duration, intensity, termination and recurrence.

It also publishes work which explores the epistemology of scholarship on intrastate conflict and contributes to debates about the politics, sociology and economics of civil wars, and the significance of intrastate conflict for international relations.

The journal has a broad intellectual remit designed to be multidisciplinary and open to a range of different academic methodologies and interests.

It welcomes work on specific armed conflicts and micro-analysis, on broad patterns of civil wars, and on historical perspectives as well as contemporary challenges.

It also seeks to explore the policy implications of conflict analysis, especially as it relates to international security, conflict prevention and resolution, intervention and peacebuilding.

Civil Wars will be required reading for students and scholars of armed conflict and international relations, and, given its policy relevance, will be of interest to those in government, international organisations and the military.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	0.9
2024	1.20

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	15827

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	101

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.326

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	28

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Post‐modern conflict: Warlords, post‐adjustment states and private protection

  Citation: 126

  Authors: Mark

• Of Rain and Raids: Violent Livestock Raiding in Northern Kenya

  Citation: 104

  Authors: Karen M., Wario R.

• Draining the Sea by Filling the Graves: Investigating the Effectiveness of Indiscriminate Violence as a Counterinsurgency Strategy

  Citation: 96

  Authors: ALEXANDER B.

• Armed Groups and the Politics of Legitimacy

  Citation: 72

  Authors: Klaus, Ulrich

• Introduction: Armed Groups and Multi-layered Governance

  Citation: 71

  Authors: Nelson, Georg, Niels

• Cogs in the wheel? Women in the liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam

  Citation: 70

  Authors: Miranda

• Ideology and Violence in Civil Wars: Theory and Evidence from Mozambique and Angola

  Citation: 66

  Authors: Kai M.

• Rebel Governance and Legitimacy: Understanding the Impact of Rebel Legitimation on Civilian Compliance with the LTTE Rule

  Citation: 62

  Authors: Niels, Georg

• The Threat of Violence and Forced Migration: Geographical Scope Trumps Intensity of Fighting

  Citation: 61

  Authors: Erik, Magnus

• Keeping Peace or Spurring Violence? Unintended Effects of Peace Operations on Violence against Civilians

  Citation: 60

  Authors: Lisa

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