Civil War and Democratization: A Micro-Level Analysis Mehmet Gurses , Florida Atlantic University Ayse Betul Celik, Sabanci University Evren Balta, Ozyegin University Objective. In this study we draw on the conflict between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Turkey to explore how exposure to violence can engender support for democracy at the individual level. Methods. We rely on two nationwide representative surveys carried out in Turkey and estimate a series of ordered logistic and logistic regression models. Results. We find that exposure to violence during civil war is a significant predictor of embracing positive attitudes toward democracy. Wartime experiences are associated with a conceptualization of democracy that underscores equality and greater tolerance toward others. Conclusion. Being a member of a repressed minority is not sufficient to explain support for democracy. The link between wartime experiences and holding positive attitudes toward democracy is conditioned by the degree of exposure to violence or which political party is supported. There is burgeoning research on the link between internal armed conflict and democ- ratization. Countries in which wars conclude through negotiated peace agreements are shown to achieve a higher level of democracy in the postwar era (Gurses and Mason, 2008; Joshi, 2010; Nilsson, 2012; Wantchekon, 2004). 1 These studies, however, have adopted a minimalist form of democracy as the most viable outcome. Hartzell and Hoddie (2015:44), recognizing the challenges involved in establishing democracy in postwar societies, offer a “more modest” Schumpeterian version of democracy “with its emphasis on the holding of competitive elections” as “attainable and realistic for states emerging from internal conflict.” While the democratization potential of civil war at the macro level has received much scholarly attention, the war–democratization nexus at the micro level remains an under- studied topic. This study, emphasizing the legacies of civil war on individuals, examines how wartime experiences shape ordinary citizens’ norms and beliefs toward democracy. We argue that although armed conflict damages standards of peaceful coexistence, it also increases support for democratic pluralism. Various factors accounting for democratic governance mostly center on respect for polit- ical rights and civil liberties (Griffith, Plamenatz, and Pennock, 1956; Dahl, 1971). Other studies have pointed to the importance of a culture of tolerance for sustainable democ- racy (Almond and Verba, 1963; Booth and Seligson, 2009; Gibson, 1988). A democratic society is one where different groups interact while showing a tolerance of one another, with minorities freely exercising their cultural and political rights (Freedom House, 2019). Direct correspondence to Mehmet Gurses, Department of Political Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431 〈gurses@fau.edu〉. 1 For a counterargument, see Fortna and Huang (2012). SOCIAL SCIENCE QUARTERLY C  2020 by the Southwestern Social Science Association DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12780