Citation

Schneider G, Banholzer L, Albarracin L. Violence Against Women 2015; 21(11): 1341-1363.

Affiliation

University of Konstanz, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801215593645

PMID

26175517

Abstract

Policy makers and academics often contend that organizational anarchy permits soldiers to perpetrate sexual violence. A recent United Nations report supports this thesis especially with regard to the massive sexual abuse in the Congolese civil war. We challenge the anarchy argument and maintain, based on a principal-agent framework, that opportunistic military commanders can order their soldiers to rape through the use of sanctions and rewards. Our qualitative and quantitative analysis of a survey of 96 Congolese ex-soldiers shows that ordered rape is more likely in organizations where soldiers fear punishment and in which commanders distribute drugs as stimulants.

Language: en