Abstract

How do people live in a country that has experienced rebellions and state-organised repressions for decades and that is still marked by routine forms of violence and impunity? What do combatants do when they are not mobilised for war? Drawing on over ten years of fieldwork conducted in Chad, Marielle Debos explains how living by the gun has become both an acceptable form of political expression and an everyday occupation.

Contrary to the popular association of violence and chaos, she shows that these fighters continue to observe rules, frontiers and hierarchies, even as their allegiances shift between rebel and government forces, and as they drift between Chad, Libya, Sudan and the Central African Republic. Going further, she explores the role of the globalised politico-military entrepreneurs and highlights the long involvement of the French military in the country. Ultimately, the book demonstrates that ending the war is not enough. The issue is ending the 'inter-war' which is maintained and reproduced by state violence.

Combining ethnographic observation with in-depth theoretical analysis, Living by the Gun in Chad is a crucial contribution to our understanding of the intersections of war and peace.

'Excellent and innovative...thoroughly researched.'
The Conversation

‘A one-of-a-kind book, a fascinating political ethnography of the men who make their living in the twilight between war and peace. Living by the Gun is the indispensible book on conflict and governance in Chad as well as a seminal analysis of the nature of contemporary war in Africa.’
Alex DeWaal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation

‘The publication in English of Marielle Debos's book allows a broad new readership to access her fascinating and eye-opening exploration of the liminal spaces between war and peace. A signal contribution to the study of violent conflict and its many implications for state and society.’
Stathis N. Kalyvas, Yale University

‘Based on a decade of research in and around Chad, this brilliant book brings together an exemplary ethnographic commitment and deep theoretical sophistication. A must read far beyond the confines of African studies or conflict studies.’
Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, University of Oxford

‘Debos’ brilliant ethnography offers an entirely original and compelling account of how people make use of arms when they are not at war and offers great insight into the deep structures of violence. A tour de force.’
Michael Watts, University of California, Berkeley

‘A welcome contribution, providing a wealth of data and rare detail, resulting in new scholarly insights whose significance goes far beyond Chad’s borders.’
Mats Utas, Uppsala University

‘Indispensable reading for anyone struggling to understand why the gun has been, and remains, such an integral part of our global political economy.’
Danny Hoffman, University of Washington

'A compelling and deeply-informed account of the militarization of politics and society in Chad. Rather than leading to chaos, it convincingly shows how armed violence produces political order and is a crucial part of daily practices of dominance.'
Koen Vlassenroot, Conflict Research Group, University of Ghent

'Offer[s]  a unique understanding of violence in relation to both the economy and the state in Central Africa. '
Anthropological Quarterly