Codebook UCDP Non-state Conflict Issues and Actors Dataset1
Version 1.0.

Nina von Uexkull & Therese Pettersson
Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University

Please cite: von Uexkull, Nina, and Therese Pettersson. 2018. “Issues and Actors in African
Nonstate Conflicts: A New Data Set.” International Interactions.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03050629.2018.1493478.

1

The data collection on issues and actor characteristics in non-state conflict was funded by research grantSWE-2010-063 by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). We thanknumerous colleagues at Uppsala University and the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) for
crucial feedback during the development of the data project. For questions about the data contact
therese.pettersson@pcr.uu.se or nina.von_uexkull@pcr.uu.se. The data can be accessed at
http://pcr.uu.se/research/ucdp/ucdp-data/1

A dyad-year dataset containing information on conflict issues and key actor characteristics in
non-state conflict. The data builds on and extends the UCDP Non-State Conflict Dataset. The
dataset covers non-state conflicts in Africa, 1989-2011, and is compatible with the UCDP
Non-State Conflict Dataset v. 2.5-2016.
A description of the scope of the data collection and descriptive statistics can be found in:
von Uexkull, Nina, and Therese Pettersson. 2018. “Issues and Actors in African Nonstate
Conflicts: A New Data Set.” International Interactions.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03050629.2018.1493478. (open access)More detailed information on the coding process and a sample coding for the dataset can befound in the Supplementary Material to the article.
More detailed information on the coding of non-state conflict can be found in Sundberg,Ralph, Kristine Eck, and Joakim Kreutz. 2012. Introducing the UCDP Non-State Conflict
Dataset. Journal of Peace Research 49(2):351–362. doi:10.1177/0022343311431598.
Information on specific sources used for specific coding decision is available upon request.

Non-state Conflict
A non-state conflict is defined by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) as “the use ofarmed force between two organized armed groups, neither of which is the government of astate, which results in at least 25 battle-related deaths in a year.”
The separate elements of the definition are operationalized as follows:(1) Use of armed force: the use of arms, resulting in deaths.
(1.1) Arms: any material means, e.g. manufactured weapons but also sticks,stones, fire, water, etc.
(2) 25 deaths: a minimum of 25 battle-related deaths per year(2.1) battle-related deaths: deaths directly related to the use of armed force
between the warring groups(3) Organized groups: consists of either(3.1) formally organized groups: any non-governmental group of people having
announced a name for their group and using armed force against anothersimilarly formally organized group, or(3.2) informally organized groups: any group without an announced name, but
who uses armed force against another similarly organized group, where theviolent activity meets the following requirement:2

(3.2.a.) there is a clear pattern of violent incidents that areconnected and in which both groups use armed force against theother(4) State: a state is(4.1) an internationally recognized sovereign government controlling aspecified territory, or(4.2) an internationally unrecognized government controlling a specified
territory whose sovereignty is not disputed by another internationallyrecognized sovereign government previously controlling the same territory.
(5) Government: the party controlling the capital of the state

Codebook
Variables in the UCDP Non-state Conflict Issues and Actors Dataset

Variable nameContentType

dyad_id

The identifier of the Non-state conflict.

IntegerThis version of the UCDP Non-state Conflict Issues andActors Dataset is compatible with the UCDP Non-state
Conflict Dataset v.2.5-2016. In 2017 the ID system forconflicts, actors and dyads was changed in order tomake it unique across all UCDP core datasets and all
UCDP types of violence. This variable corresponds tothe Dyad ID reported in the v.2.5-2016 Dataset. For theDyad ID according to the new ID system, please
consult the dyadid_new variable.
dyadid_new

The unique identifier of the Non-state conflict.

IntegerThis version of the UCDP Non-state Conflict Issues andActors Dataset is compatible with the UCDP Non-state
Conflict Dataset v.2.5-2016. In 2017 the ID system forconflicts, actors and dyads was changed in order tomake it unique across all UCDP core datasets and all
UCDP types of violence. This variable containsinformation on the Dyad ID according to the new ID
system. To download a conversion table containing
new and old IDs, visit http://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/.
org

This variable indicates the organizational level of the Integer
warring sides. The level of organization is determined3

according to the following categories:
Organizational level 1 (formally organized groups):
Rebel groups and other organized groups that have ahigh enough level of organization so as to be possible
to include in the state-based armed conflict category.
These include rebel groups with an announced name,as well as military factions (Forces of…). This level oforganization captures fighting between highlyorganized rebel groups and fatalities are recorded
according to the criteria set for battle-related deaths inthe state-based conflict category.

Organizational level 2 (informally organized groups):
Groups composed of supporters and affiliates topolitical parties and candidates. These are commonly
not groups that are permanently organized for combat,
but who at times use their organizational structures forsuch purposes. In addition to supporters of politicalparties and candidates, included in this category is also
fighting between groups composed of supporters ofother organizations such as the supporters of al-Ahly
football team fighting against the supporters of al-Masry
football team in Egypt 2012. Battle-related deaths arerecorded according to section 3.2.a of the definition of
non-state conflict.

Organizational level 3 (informally organized groups):
Groups that share a common identification along
ethnic, clan, religious, national or tribal lines. These are
not groups that are permanently organized for combat,
but who at times organize themselves along said lines
to engage in fighting. This level of organization
captures aspects of what is commonly referred to as‘communal conflicts’, in that conflict stands along lines
of communal identity. Battle-related deaths arerecorded according to section 3.2.a of the definition of
non-state conflictyear

The year of observation.

gwno_location

The Gleditsch and Ward code for the countries where string
fighting took place in the dyad-year. Comma-separated
if multiple.

Integer4

side_a_name

The party that constitute Side A in the conflict. For each Integer
conflict the parties are listed in alphabetical order, using
the latest known names of the parties involved

side_a_id

The ID of the groups that make up Side A. For conflicts Integer
with multiple actors fighting together a temporary
coalition ID has been assigned.
This version of the UCDP Non-state Conflict Issues andActors Dataset is compatible with the UCDP Non-state
Conflict Dataset v.2.5-2016. In 2017 the ID system forconflicts, actors and dyads was changed in order tomake it unique across all UCDP core datasets and all
UCDP types of violence. This variable corresponds tothe Side A ID reported in the v.2.5-2016 Dataset. To
download a conversion table containing new and oldIDs, visit http://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/.

side_a_live

Side A Livelihood: 1=Agropastoralist, 2=Pastoralist, Integer
3=Farmer, 4=Other/Unknown, 5= N/A
For all communal groups that mobilize along the linesof particular livelihoods this variable notes thatlivelihood. This variable is only coded for organizational
level 3 groups (informally organized groups). For
groups of organizational level 1 and 2 this variabletakes the value of 5.

side_a_rel

Side A Religious (dummy variable). This variable notes Integerwhere religion is salient in the mobilization of the armed
group involved in non-state conflict. If not, this variabletakes the value of 0.

side_b_name

The party that constitute Side B in the conflict. For each Integer
conflict the parties are listed in alphabetical order, using
the latest known names of the parties involved.

side_b_id

The ID of the groups that make up Side B. For conflicts Integer
with multiple actors fighting together a temporary
coalition ID has been assigned.
This version of the UCDP Non-state Conflict Issues andActors Dataset is compatible with the UCDP Non-state
Conflict Dataset v.2.5-2016. In 2017 the ID system forconflicts, actors and dyads was changed in order tomake it unique across all UCDP core datasets and all
UCDP types of violence. This variable corresponds tothe Side B ID reported in the v.2.5-2016 Dataset. To
download a conversion table containing new and old5

IDs, visit http://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/.
side_b_live

Side B Livelihood: 1=Agropastoralist, 2=Pastoralist, Integer
3=Farmer, 4=Other, 5= N/AFor all communal groups that mobilize along the linesof particular livelihoods this variable notes thatlivelihood. This variable is only coded for organizational
level 3 groups (informally organized groups). For
groups of organizational level 1 and 2 this variabletakes the value of 5.

side_b_rel

Side B Religious (dummy variable). This variable notes Integer
where religion is salient in the mobilization of the armed
group involved in non-state conflict. If not, this variabletakes the value of 0.

dyadic_live

Dyadic Livelihood. The livelihood of both groups Integer
involved in conflict, always in numerical order (i.e. if
Side A has livelihood 3, and Side B has livelihood 2,dyadic_live will always be 23, never 32).

issue_territory

Territorial conflict issues (dummy variable).

IntegerThis category includes all territorial issues that areclaimed by both groups e.g. border demarcation,access to grazing land, wells or arable land. It isdistinguished from the authority category in that thegroups are not fighting about whose decisions will be
impose upon the other group through the local or
national government, but over a piece of land.
issue_authority

Authority conflict issues (dummy variable).

IntegerThis category includes all conflicts related to the formal
administration of the state (e.g. control of the localadministration, influence in the state administration).
Also electoral violence between supporters ofcandidates of different political parties falls into thiscategory. Alternatively, authority can be informal suchas chiefdom/kingdom within an ethnic group or
leadership struggles within a rebel groups.
issue_other

Other conflict issue (dummy variable).

Integer

Residual other issue cluster for all issues that fit neither
the authority or territorial categories.

subissue_agland_waterAgricultural land and/or water conflict issues (dummy Integervariable).
Land-use conflicts where water or agricultural lands are
the bones of contentions. Subissue of territory cluster6

of issues.
subissue_religious

Religious conflict issue (dummy variable).

Integer

At least one side in the conflict-dyad has madedemands that are explicitly referring to religion. For
instance, if a group fights for the application of Sharia
law within a certain territory, the conflict issue will be
coded as religious (cf. Svensson and Nilsson 2017).
Subissue of residual other issue category.
subissue_formal_aut

Formal authority conflict issue (dummy variable).

Integer

Conflict issue is a source of formal authority – such as
control state apparatus, or particular government
representatives. Subissue of authority category.
subissue_livestock

Livestock conflict issue (dummy variable).

IntegerThis category will include all conflicts where the main
aim is to appropriate livestock from the other group. For
example, violent cattle raids are very common among
pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in theSahel region. Subissue of residual other category.
subissue_informal_aut
horityInformal authority conflict issue (dummy variable).

subissue_territory

Territory conflict issue (dummy variable).

Integer

Conflict issue is not control of the state apparatus, butleadership within a group or a community. Sub-clusterof the authority category.
IntegerThis category includes all territorial issues that areclaimed by both groups e.g. border demarcation that do
not fall into agricultural land/water subissue category.
Subissue of territory.
subissue_otherSub-issue other (dummy variable).

Integer

Indicates all conflicts that have issue_other but neither
are over livestock nor religion.
primary

Indicates the quality of primary source, i.e. statements Integer
from the conflicting parties themselves about what they
fight over, for information on the conflict issue (maxvalue).
5=both groups agree, 3=contradictory statements,
1=one group statement, 0=nosecondary

Indicates the quality of secondary source for
information on the conflict issue (max value).

Integer

5=many, 1=few, 0=no7

timerefIndicates the quality of time reference for information Integer
on the conflict issue (max value).
5=immediateAND2=background, 0=nobackground,

3=immediate,This variable indicates how close in time to the relevant
conflict episode a statement was made or thesecondary source was found. This allows users todistinguish between sources that indicate generalissues of contention between conflicting parties andinformation that refers explicitly to a particular outbreakof fighting.

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