Re-examining the State/Non-State Binary in the Study of (Civil) War

One of the fundamental distinctions informing studies on civil war is that between state and non-state actors as parties to an armed conflict. As we argue, however, this binary has recently come under increased scrutiny in light of real-world developments in armed conflicts. The article builds on ne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Civil wars 2023-07, Vol.25 (2-3), p.428-451
Main Authors: Pfeifer, Hanna, Schwab, Regine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Civil war
Conflict
Convergence
Non-state actors
Scrutiny
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Summary:One of the fundamental distinctions informing studies on civil war is that between state and non-state actors as parties to an armed conflict. As we argue, however, this binary has recently come under increased scrutiny in light of real-world developments in armed conflicts. The article builds on newer scholarly contributions that have exposed the porous boundaries between state and non-state actors and orders while demonstrating a striking convergence in their behaviour. Drawing on examples from conflict zones in West Asia and North Africa, we investigate phenomena in civil wars that uncover the tenuity of state/non-state distinction.
ISSN:1369-8249
1743-968X
DOI:10.1080/13698249.2023.2254654