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The Politics of Insurgency in Collapsing States

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  • William Reno

Abstract

The phenomenon of failed states might be expected to lead to the development of mass–based social movements to address the typically ensuing social problems. This article explores the general failure of reformist insurgencies to develop in failed states, using analyses of Nigeria’s Bakassi Boys and Oodua People’s Congress, and references to other armed groups. The cause of this failure is found in the legacy of patronage politics, especially the strategies of rulers who monopolized economic opportunities as a way of controlling people. As centralized patronage networks fragment, popular movements develop to challenge this control. Local political entrepreneurs, however, continue to dominate local markets, including clandestine ones, and use this social domination to buy off members of mass movements. As their new patrons give them access to weapons and protection against rivals, the organizational position of members who pursue individual economic interests is enhanced, while the people with more overt ideological agendas are marginalized.

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  • William Reno, 2002. "The Politics of Insurgency in Collapsing States," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 33(5), pages 837-858, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devchg:v:33:y:2002:i:5:p:837-858
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-7660.t01-1-00251
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    Cited by:

    1. Konstantin Ash, 2022. "State weakness and support for ethnic violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 59(6), pages 860-875, November.
    2. Matsumoto, Mitsuko, 2016. "Three strands of explanations on root causes of civil war in low-income and weak states in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for education," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1-10.
    3. David M Malone & Heiko Nitzschke, 2010. "Economic Agendas in Civil Wars: What We Know, What We Need to Know," Working Papers id:3226, eSocialSciences.
    4. Guichaoua, Yvan, 2010. "How Do Ethnic Militias Perpetuate in Nigeria? A Micro-level Perspective on the Oodua People's Congress," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 1657-1666, November.
    5. Rebecca Davies, 2010. "Development challenges for a resurgent African diaspora," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 10(2), pages 131-144, April.
    6. Matthew R DiGiuseppe & Colin M Barry & Richard W Frank, 2012. "Good for the money," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 49(3), pages 391-405, May.
    7. Patricia Justino, 2009. "The Impact of Armed Civil Conflict on Household Welfare and Policy Responses," Research Working Papers 12, MICROCON - A Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict.
    8. Patricia Justino, 2006. "On the Links between Violent Conflict and Chronic Poverty: How Much Do We Really Know?," HiCN Working Papers 18, Households in Conflict Network.
    9. Yvan Guichaoua, 2009. "How Do Ethnic Militias Perpetuate in Nigeria? A Micro-level Perspective on the Oodua People’s Congress," Research Working Papers 19, MICROCON - A Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict.
    10. Modu Lawan Gana, 2020. "Militia Counterinsurgency: Implications of Pro-government Militia Participation in Counterinsurgency in Northeast Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 4(12), pages 61-66, December.

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