Do Human Rights Violations Cause Internal Conflict?

In “Do Human Rights Violations Cause Internal Conflict?” (Human Rights Quarterly, 2007), Oskar N. T. Thoms and James Ron assess whether governments that abuse human rights are more likely to experience domestic unrest, civil war, and rebellion. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative evidence, the article systematically reviews more than thirty years of research connecting state repression, political violence, and internal conflict. The authors find that serious violations—especially torture, extrajudicial killing, and arbitrary detention—are consistently associated with higher risks of violent opposition. However, they also note that the causal mechanisms are complex: repression can deter some actors even as it radicalizes others. This study provides one of the most comprehensive syntheses of the human-rights/conflict nexus, highlighting both methodological advances and empirical gaps. It is widely cited in the fields of political science, peace studies, international law, and human rights research, and is relevant for policymakers seeking to understand how human-rights practices affect domestic stability.