The state is not a necessary factor in a conflict. Parties to a conflict are often non-state actors. Furthermore, the political violence that emerges in a conflict often comes from groups that do not represent the state. Non-state actors vary from ethnic groups, local militia, armed groups, criminal groups, and often operate across national borders. However, this violence from these groups has gotten less attention in the peace and conflict literature.
This research group will look at various research questions, such as:
- Which non-state groups engage in political violence?
- How do non-state conflicts affect the national level?
- What type of violence do we see at the non-state level?
- How do these groups mobilize?
- What distinguishes political violence from criminal violence?
- What makes some groups use violence to achieve their political goals, and others not?
- How do none-state actors build up a military force, and how do they acquire and maintain funding for this?
Within this research group we have researchers with various methodological backgrounds, both qualitative and quantitative. The topic of non-state conflict actors is suitable for both of these types. Currently several dataset exits, that are ideal for studying non-state actors, both on macro and micro level (survey data). There is also a strong focus within the group on specific cases, countries and regions, which give unique insight. The various methodological approaches will give the researchers within the group the benefit of more interesting and varied discussions.