The growing availability of geospatial data that document both how violent actors are connected and where their attacks take place offers a unique opportunity to produce a more integrated approach to the evolution of armed conflicts. The goal of this article is to contribute to this agenda, by introducing the concept of the spatial conflict life cycle. This new concept allows for spatializing conflict networks over time by bringing together three approaches that have been developed separately: spatial analysis, network analysis, and temporal analysis. After reviewing the literature, we note that applications of space, networks, and time have been limited to combinations in pairs. The article then discusses how the concept of spatial conflict life cycle can conceptually bring them all together and how it can be applied to study the evolution of armed conflicts in Africa using disaggregated data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) Project. Our results suggest that African armed conflicts express regularities in the way violence is spatially and temporally distributed. Conflicts tend to follow a certain number of common temporal stages in their geography that resemble a cycle, from the moment they emerge in specific regions, until they end.

Olivier J. Walther

Steven M. Radil

David G. Russell

Annals of the American Association of Geographers

The Annals of the American Association of Geographers  was first published in 1911. It is recognized as the Association's premier journal for major research articles for all fields of geography. To be accepted, a paper must adhere to a high standard of scholarship and make an important contribution to geographic knowledge. It should also be grounded in the relevant literature of the specialization it represents and, where appropriate, establish relationships to themes within the broader discipline. Contents may include invited essays, review articles, Presidential Addresses, and memorials.

The Annals of the American Association of Geographers, first published in 1911, is recognized as the premier journal of the Association for significant research articles across all fields of geography. To be accepted, a paper must meet high scholarly standards and make a substantial contribution to geographic knowledge. It should be grounded in the relevant literature of its specialization and, where appropriate, establish connections to themes within the broader discipline. The contents may include invited essays, review articles, Presidential Addresses, and memorials.

《Annals of the American Association of Geographers》创刊于1911年，是美国地理学会的主要期刊，专注于地理学各个领域的重要研究文章。为了被接受，论文必须符合高标准的学术要求，并对地理知识做出重要贡献。论文应基于相关专业文献，并在适当的情况下，与更广泛的学科主题建立联系。期刊内容可能包括邀请论文、综述文章、总统演讲和纪念文章。

Category	Quartile
社会学	2
社会学, 地理学	3

The Spatial Conflict Life Cycle in Africa

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