Daniels, Lesley-Ann2021-12-102021Daniels LA. Stick then carrot: when do governments give amnesty during Civil War? International Studies Quarterly. 2021 Jun;65(2):401-8. DOI: 10.1093/isq/sqab0080020-8833http://hdl.handle.net/10230/49165Governments grant amnesties to rebel groups during civil wars and this is a puzzle. Why would the government offer an amnesty, which can be interpreted as a signal of weakness? In certain circumstances, offering amnesty is a rational policy choice. Governments should give amnesties when they are winning: the risk of misinterpreted signals is lessened, costs are low, rebel groups are weakened, and so amnesty can be used instrumentally to encourage defection or division among foot soldiers or as an incentive to leaders. Therefore, the government capitalizes on its military advantage and offers amnesty in a “stick then carrot” tactic. Using a database of amnesties during conflicts from 1990 to 2011, the article shows that governments are more likely to give amnesties following high rebel deaths. The use of amnesty during conflict is nuanced and context is important when understanding strategic choices.application/pdfeng© Oxford University Press. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in International Studies Quarterly following peer review. The version of record Daniels LA. Stick then carrot: when do governments give amnesty during Civil War? International Studies Quarterly. 2021 Jun;65(2):401-8. DOI: 10.1093/isq/sqab008 is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/isq/article/65/2/401/6144694info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqab008Civil WarAmnestyTransitional justiceConflict terminationBargaining theoryinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess