RT Article
T1 Splinters and schisms: rebel group fragmentation and the durability of insurgencies
JF Terrorism and political violence
VO 32
IS 2
SP 345
OP 364
A1 Mahoney, Charles W.
LA English
YR 2020
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1832601102
AB Insurgent organizations often experience internal fragmentation when a faction breaks away to form a separate group with independent leadership. Following a split, what factors influence the relative durability and status of groups within larger nationalist movements? Existing theory attributes variation in groups’ performance after a division to rebel strategy. Specifically, some work argues that extremist groups using violence will outbid more moderate competitors; however, alternate research contends organizations using strategic non-violence will have more success. Contrary to previous work, this inquiry argues that in many instances rebel strategy following a split has little influence on the duration and status of groups. Instead, organizations’ relative membership size at the time of a division is the most important factor influencing their subsequent performance. That is, after a split larger core groups are more likely to survive for longer periods and to advance within their broader nationalist movements than splinter groups. However, in cases when divisions result in groups of similar size and strength, strategy may still play a significant role in rebel organizations’ comparative longevity and status.
NO Gesehen am 27.01.2023
NO Published online: 02 Nov 2017
K1 Insurgency
K1 Terrorism
K1 Fragmentation
K1 splinter
K1 Schism
K1 national movements
DO 10.1080/09546553.2017.1374254