Book Title: Uncivic Legacies:  Civil Society & Democratization in Post-Conflict Africa
Chapter Title: Citizen and Civil Society Relations in Post-Conflict Côte d'Ivoire

My book project addresses a question of global significance: How do societies build democracy after war?  In the past two decades, international donors have allocated approximately 25 billion USD to civil society organizations (CSOs) in African countries affected by civil war. I focus on the phenomenon of civil society-led democratization in post-conflict settings by analyzing the understudied role of CSO leaders. These leaders – critical actors in democratization and development – are tasked with reconstituting pro-social norms and practices after war. Yet, both the policy and academic communities overlook a fundamental fact when investing in CSOs in post-conflict settings: CSO leaders themselves face significant obstacles to achieving their goals of democracy and peace.

I demonstrate that the democratic potential of CSOs and their leaders in the post-war environment is shaped by two key factors: the wartime experience of leaders and their constituents, and the polarized climate in which they operate. I argue that CSOs face the largest hurdles to democracy promotion where they are perceived as or are working with populations that are anti-regime and who have historically been in the losing coalition of the war. In contrast, CSOs will have greater success in places that were formerly under uncontested rebel control, where the population is pro-regime, and when the organizational leadership is perceived to be pro-regime.  By drawing on two original surveys of citizens, including a survey experiment, as well as qualitative data collected through focus groups and participant observation, I show that there is considerable variation in perceptions and preferences of CSO activities that correspond with partisanship and wartime experience. These findings have implications for post-conflict democratization by raising questions about relying on war-traumatized CSO leaders to facilitate democratic culture among reticent populations.