Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy > Vol 3 > Issue 2

Liberation Wars as Critical Junctures: Colonial Heritage and the Persistence of Inequality

Vladimir Chlouba, Department of Political Science, The Ohio State University, USA, chlouba.1@osu.edu
 
Suggested Citation
Vladimir Chlouba (2022), "Liberation Wars as Critical Junctures: Colonial Heritage and the Persistence of Inequality", Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy: Vol. 3: No. 2, pp 149-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/113.00000056

Publication Date: 28 Jun 2022
© 2022 V. Chlouba
 
Subjects
Civil conflict,  Political economy,  Political history
 
Keywords
Inequalityliberation warsettler colonialismAlgeriaNamibia
 

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In this article:
Introduction 
Liberation Wars as Critical Junctures 
Quantitative Evidence 
Qualitative Evidence: Algeria and Namibia 
Conclusion 
References 

Abstract

Under what conditions do the distributional legacies of settler colonialism persist? Much of past research has operated under the assumption that differing colonial experiences constituted critical junctures whose effects have more often than not endured. Analysts have pointed to settler colonialism as a crucial determinant of present levels of income inequality in former settler colonies. However, a closer look at historical data suggests that while legacies of settler colonialism do predict higher levels of inequality at independence, they do not preclude the possibility of subsequent critical junctures that can alter present-day outcomes. In this paper, I argue that former colonies that achieved independence through non-settler led independence wars enjoy substantially lower levels of inequality. The implied mechanism is destruction of settler-established property rights. In countries where indigenous elites defeated settler interests on the battlefield, liberation wars often precipitated transformative social revolutions.

DOI:10.1561/113.00000056

Online Appendix | 113.00000056_app.pdf

This is the article's accompanying appendix.

DOI: 10.1561/113.00000056_app