Study Notes on Violence by Non-State Actors

Chapter 6: Violence

6.1 Violence by Non-State Actors

  • Definition: Violence enacted by groups or individuals that are not part of or associated with a recognized state authority.
  • Types:
    • Civil War
    • Involves organized groups that aim to take power at the center of the state or to gain independence from it.
    • Characterized by:
      • More than 1,000 battle deaths.
      • Significant consequences and repercussions on the populations involved.
    • Examples include:
      • Kashmir Conflict: Involvement of groups such as Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), which serves as a notable actor in the ongoing insurgency in Kashmir.

6.2 Grievances and Greed in Civil Wars

  • Actors' Motivations
    • Grievances: Issues stemming from the mistreatment or discrimination of specific populations by the state.
    • Greed: The desire to control lucrative resources can also act as a catalyst for civil wars. These resources can include:
    • Blood diamonds
    • Cocaine
    • Opium
  • Collective Action Problem (CAP): Refers to the challenges individuals face when trying to mobilize for collective action, affecting their decision to join or not.
    • Characteristics:
    • Ethnic and cultural differences significantly influence civil conflicts.
    • The personal incentive of joining is often minimal, as individuals perceive the collective benefits of joining as uncertain and small.
    • Mobilization: Successful campaigns can provide benefits predominantly for those who take part in them, often resulting in a reliance on shared identity (e.g., ethnicity, tribe).

6.3 Factors Influencing Civil War

6.3.1 Country-Level Factors
  • Exclusion from Political Process: When groups feel marginalized or excluded, they are more likely to rebel.
  • Regime Type: How democratic or autocratic a state is can influence the likelihood of civil unrest.
    • Democracy: May enhance accountability, but repressive autocracies often face more dissent.
    • Weaknesses: Autocracies or immature democracies are often vulnerable to civil unrest and rebellion.
  • Geography:
    • Larger populations and mountainous terrains tend to exacerbate insurgency conditions.
  • International Factors: Influence from international actors can lead to opportunities for group support and funding for insurgent movements.
    • Example: Russian-speaking groups in Ukraine receiving support from the Russian government due to ethnic ties.
6.3.2 Case Study: Southern Sudan Separatism
  • Background: Southern Sudan sought independence from Sudan because of religious and ethnic disparities (predominately Christian in the South vs. Arab Muslim majority in the North).
  • Outcome: Officially won statehood in 2011.
  • Consequences:
    • Resulted in a civil war leading to significant casualties (e.g., over 500,000 deaths) and mass displacement (around 4 million displaced).

6.4 Strategies for Resolving Civil Wars

  • Insurgency Tactics
    • Not directly confronting military but implementing methods to impose costs on the government, avoiding direct attacks on civilians.
    • Attempts to surround and limit government’s operational capacity, often inadvertently causing civilian casualties.
  • Counterinsurgency (COIN):
    • Aimed at winning the support of local populations and providing a safe space.
    • Counterproductive if reliant on foreign aid, especially when tied to corruption or poor governance.
  • Foreign Aid Effectiveness: Provisions of aid can support rebuilding but often lead to challenges in ensuring proper allocation and distribution.

6.5 Terrorism

  • Definition: The use of threat or violence against non-combatant targets by individuals or non-state groups as a means to achieve political goals.
  • Characteristics:
    • Typically involves extremists who feel that normal political processes are unfeasible due to their relative weaknesses against state entities.
    • Bargaining Failures: Occur due to:
    • Incomplete information between conflicting parties.
    • Commitment problems where parties may not trust each other.
    • Indivisibility of issues leading to conflict.
  • Terrorism Effects: Often results in increased support for extremist views and hardens public sentiment against perceived enemies.

6.6 Counterterrorism Strategies

  • Deterrence/Preemption: Measures intended to prevent future attacks but can paradoxically harm civilians if misapplied.
  • Defensive Measures: Typically reactive, aimed at protecting citizens from attacks.
  • Negotiation: Promising, especially if it allows for the integration of militant groups into the political process.
    • However, it risks provoking reactions from other militant factions.
  • Civil Conflict Dynamics: A cyclical problem where civil conflict parties face challenges in overcoming the collective action problems mentioned earlier.

Conclusion

  • Understanding violence by non-state actors, through civil wars and terrorism, reveals the complexities of contemporary political conflicts. Factors vary from personal grievances and resource control to broader geopolitical influences and internal government structures. Strategies for resolution must navigate these multifaceted issues effectively, reflecting both the historical and present-day challenges of civil conflict and insurgency.