Moving beyond terror groups to examine non-state actors including warlords, gangs and private security companies, Violent Non-State Actors: • Guides you through the core theories and concepts, taking a multidisciplinary approach • Examines different explanations for the emergence of violent non-state actors as well as strategies for dealing with them • Weaves in international case studies from groups including the Islamic State, Los Zetas, Hamas, and Al Qaeda, as well as discussion questions, further reading and definitions of key terms A must read for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students in politics, international relations, security and terrorism studies.

Moderation and Politicization

Moderation and Politicization

Key Terms

  • African National Congress Party (ANC)
  • mozumbique Liberation Front (FRELIMO)
  • Structuralist approach
  • Hezbollah
  • Hamas
  • Sandinistas National Liberation Front (FSNL)
  • Sinn Fein
  • Strategic approaches

Political Organizations with Militant Wings

As Gerald Seymour pointed out in his 1975 book, Harry’s Game, ‘one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ (62). The line that distinguishes violent non-state actors taking part in atrocities against civilians and legitimate actors pushing to rectify legitimate grievances is often blurry. Violent non-state actors use violence to achieve their objectives, but what happens when they are also willing to do so through conventional methods? In order to best understand how to deal with groups that have chosen to play by the rules, it’s necessary to take a critical look at political organizations with armed wings. This chapter ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles