
Postwar elections often feature parties linked to past violence.
New cross-national data reveals that military strength at conflict's end is a key factor in electoral success for belligerents. This power disparity helps dominant groups claim peace credit, positioning them as competent security providers and appealing to undecided voters.
This study shows how voters' decisions can be influenced by a group's military dominance post-conflict, offsetting negative perceptions of past atrocities through perceived competence. This offers insights into political dynamics after periods of violence.

| Voting for Victors: Why Violent Actors Win Postwar Elections was authored by Sarah Daly. It was published by Johns Hopkins in World Pol. in 2019. |