Militancy Governance under State Failure: Models of Legitimacy Contestation in Ungoverned Spaces Cover Image

Devlet Otoritesi Boşluğu Durumlarında Milis İdaresi: Yönetilemeyen Alanlarda Meşruiyet Rekabeti Modelleri
Militancy Governance under State Failure: Models of Legitimacy Contestation in Ungoverned Spaces

Author(s): H.Akın ÜNVER
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Military history, Political history, Recent History (1900 till today)
Published by: Atatürk Stratejik Araştırmalar Enstitüsü
Keywords: Civil War; Non-State Actors; Governance; Syria-Iraq; Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: This article makes an empirical exposition of militancy governance under state failure by focusing on ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), YPG (People’s Protection Units), Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic. Specifically, the article discusses how these groups mobilize different types of grievances and frame their propaganda to exert control over areas where states are weakened. Furthermore, how these groups engage in early modes of pre- and post-territorial control, form governance practices and prioritize particular areas for better administration are also elaborated in detail. Ultimately, the paper argues that Violent Non-State Actors (VNSAs) perform better in areas of low loyalty and high resource-generation and if its territorial ambitions are maximalist (expansionist). Through these variables, we are better able to judge how sustainable these groups will be in their respective territories and how should states approach local governance once these groups are defeated.

  • Issue Year: 13/2017
  • Issue No: 26
  • Page Range: 45-84
  • Page Count: 40
  • Language: English