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Why do rebel groups frequently clash instead of cooperating against their shared enemy, the state? Examining the dynamics of civil wars in Iraq, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and Syria, Costantino Pischedda argues that infighting is a calculated response by rebel groups to perceived opportunities and vulnerabilities.
List of contents
1. Wars Within Wars
2. Windows of Opportunity, Windows of Vulnerability, and Inter-rebel War
3. Inter-rebel War in the Shadow of Genocide: The Kurdish Insurgencies in Iraq
4. Parallel Paths to Ethnic Hegemony: Insurgencies in Ethiopia’s Eritrea and Tigray
5. Inter-rebel War in Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and Syria
6. Are Coethnic Rebel Groups More Likely to Fight Each Other? A Statistical Test
Conclusions
List of Acronyms
Notes
Index
Summary
Why do rebel groups frequently clash instead of cooperating against their shared enemy, the state? Examining the dynamics of civil wars in Iraq, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and Syria, Costantino Pischedda argues that infighting is a calculated response by rebel groups to perceived opportunities and vulnerabilities.
Additional text
Why do rebel groups in civil wars so often turn upon each other instead of focusing on their common enemy—the state? In this insightful and meticulously researched book, Costantino Pischedda argues that inter-rebel violence is a strategic choice by the rebels. It begins when powerful rebel groups see windows or opportunity to consolidate their position as the prime challenger to the state, or when weaker groups attack their rivals in a bid to “gamble for resurrection.” Conflict Among Rebels should be read by anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the dynamics and consequences of civil wars today.
