Today's vision of world order is founded upon the concept of strong, well-functioning states,
in contrast to the destabilizing potential of failed or fragile states. This worldview has …

During civil wars, some communities raise self-defense militias to protect themselves from
insurgent predation, but these militias can end up mutating into predatory organizations. The …

The rites and practices of folk religion in Nigeria cut across virtually all conventional and
emerging social institutions in the country. The inability of the State to perform many of its …

This study brings the notion of informal institutions developed by Helmke and Levintsky's
research agenda into the body of literature on civil–military relations. While acknowledged …

Along with Iraqi security forces, pro-government militias, known as Popular Mobilisation
Forces (PMF, also “Hashd al-Shaabi” in Arabic), played a significant role in defeating ISIS …

This paper explores why taxation reforms are so different in fragile states, the conditions in
which they occur, and what can be done to make these reforms more successful–including …

Order out of Chaos explains why Iraqis turned to the mosque after state collapse. In 2003,
the US-led invasion of Iraq destroyed the Bathist state. Despite this the citizens of Basra …

PREFACE 1. Erica Gaston and Jonathan Horowitz, The Cost of Kill/Capture: Impact of the Night
Raid Surge on Afghan Civilians (New Page 1 NOTES PREFACE 1. Erica Gaston and Jonathan …

This book offers a new insight into when and why paramilitary groups in Afghanistan engage
in protective or predatory behavior against the civilians they purportedly defend. In …

The humanitarian response in north-east Nigeria is an important opportunity to examine
barriers to more inclusive humanitarian action in large-scale, complex and protracted …