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The Social Terrain of Rebel Held Territory

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  • Jori Breslawski

Abstract

The extent of local order varies widely in rebel held areas, from total chaos to well-run governing institutions. When these institutions exist, why do some include civilian input in local affairs, while others exclude civilians from governance? I argue that rebels choose different governing strategies that maximize their utility of territorial control, based on certain characteristics of civilian inhabitants populating the territory. Rebels’ constituency determines whether rebels seek to govern civilians or control them solely with coercive violence, and community cohesion (or lack thereof) then determines the type of institutions that rebels develop. I focus on three different outcomes for communities under rebel control—no institutions, exclusive institutions, and inclusive institutions. I test my argument using historical, statistical, and case evidence, leveraging original cross-national data on local order in rebel held territory as well as interviews with village heads, ex-combatants, and community members in Aceh, Indonesia.

Suggested Citation

  • Jori Breslawski, 2021. "The Social Terrain of Rebel Held Territory," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 65(2-3), pages 453-479, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:65:y:2021:i:2-3:p:453-479
    DOI: 10.1177/0022002720951857
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salehyan, Idean & Siroky, David & Wood, Reed M., 2014. "External Rebel Sponsorship and Civilian Abuse: A Principal-Agent Analysis of Wartime Atrocities," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 68(3), pages 633-661, July.
    2. Stewart, Megan A., 2018. "Civil War as State-Making: Strategic Governance in Civil War," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 72(1), pages 205-226, January.
    3. Sartori, Anne E., 2003. "An Estimator for Some Binary-Outcome Selection Models Without Exclusion Restrictions," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(2), pages 111-138, April.
    4. Michael A. Rubin, 2020. "Rebel Territorial Control and Civilian Collective Action in Civil War: Evidence from the Communist Insurgency in the Philippines," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 64(2-3), pages 459-489, February.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Blair Welsh, 2023. "Your space or mine? Competition, control, and the spatial profile of militant violence against civilians," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 60(4), pages 557-572, July.

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