Rebels against Rebels: Explaining Violence between Rebel Groups

• Published in: The Journal of conflict resolution 2012-08, Vol.56 (4), p.604-628
• Main Authors: Fjelde, Hanne, Nilsson, Desirée
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Armed conflict; Civil war; Civil wars; Conflict; Conflict resolution; Drugs; Ethnic conflict; Government; Government (Administrative Body); interrebel violence; Natural resources; non-state conflict; Political conflict; Political violence; Quantitative analysis; Quantitative Methods; rebel group; Rebellions; Rebels; Resource management; Resource Materials; Studies; Territorial issues; Territories; Violence; War conflict
• ISSN: 0022-0027; 1552-8766; 1552-8766
• DOI: 10.1177/0022002712439496

Rebel groups that confront the government frequently become engaged in fierce and violent struggles with other groups. Why does a rebel group who is already fighting with the government become engaged in yet another struggle, thereby sacrificing scarce resources in the fight against other rebel groups? This article addresses this puzzle by providing the first global study on the determinants of interrebel violence. The authors argue that this violence should be understood as a means to secure material resources and political leverage that can help the group prevail in the conflict with the government. The quantitative analysis builds on new data on armed conflict between nonstate actors, 1989—2007. The results show that interrebel conflict is more likely when the rebel group fights in an area with drug cultivation, when the group is in control of territory beyond government reach, when the group is either militarily strong or weak in relation to other rebels, and where state authority is weak.