Militias in Civil War (Introduction to Special Issue)

Corinna Jentzsch

Stathis N. Kalyvas

Journal of Conflict Resolution 59(5): 755–69.

Militias are an empirical phenomenon that has been overlooked by current research on civil war. Yet, it is a phenomenon that is crucial for understanding political violence, civil war, post‐conflict politics, and authoritarianism. Militias or paramilitaries are armed groups that operate alongside regular security forces or work independently of the state to shield the local population from insurgents. We review existing uses of the term, explore the range of empirical manifestations of militias, and highlight recent findings, including those supplied by the articles in this special issue. We focus on areas where the recognition of the importance of militias challenges and complements current theories of civil war. We conclude by introducing a research agenda advocating the integrated study of militias and rebel groups.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022002715576753

DOI: 10.1177/0022002715576753

Jentzsch, Corinna, Stathis N. Kalyvas, and Livia Isabella Schubiger. 2015. “Militias in Civil War (Introduction to Special Issue).” Journal of Conflict Resolution 59(5): 755–69.

@Article{militias-in-civil-war,
   Title = {Militias in Civil War (Introduction to Special Issue)},
   Author = {Jentzsch, Corinna and Kalyvas, Stathis N. and Schubiger, Livia Isabella},
   Journal = {Journal of Conflict Resolution},
   Year = {2015},
   Number = {5},
   Pages = {755-769},
   Volume = {59},
   Abstract = {Militias are an empirical phenomenon that has been overlooked by current research on civil war. Yet, it is a phenomenon that is crucial for understanding political violence, civil war, post-conflict politics, and authoritarianism. Militias or paramilitaries are armed groups that operate alongside regular security forces or work independently of the state to shield the local population from insurgents. We review existing uses of the term, explore the range of empirical manifestations of militias, and highlight recent findings, including those supplied by the articles in this special issue. We focus on areas where the recognition of the importance of militias challenges and complements current theories of civil war. We conclude by introducing a research agenda advocating the integrated study of militias and rebel groups.},
   doi = {10.1177/0022002715576753},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022002715576753}
}