Cross-national Data Collection and Analysis of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Programs

This project seeks to produce a country-level quantitative analysis of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs that are designed to transition ex-combatants from civil conflict back into mainstream society. DDR programs have been implemented in over 60 countries since the late 1980s and are viewed as a key process for promoting the inclusion of ex-combatants in civil society and preventing conflict recurrence. DDR also represents an approach to “counter/ prevent violent extremism”. However, policymakers and analysts have been hamstrung in understanding what lessons are transferable from one DDR setting to another. Existing cross-national studies of DDR are largely qualitative and anecdotal, with little comparative information on the similarities and differences of program features across countries. Our project first involves creating a cross-national dataset on the characteristics of different historical DDR programs and a source document library. We will then seek to answer policy-relevant research questions about the reintegration of ex-combatants, by merging existing data on armed conflicts and their modes of termination.