Collaborative: Workshop; The Organization of Rebellion- Understanding Rebel Group Governance and Legitimacy

General Abstract This workshop aims to fill an important void in our understanding of the variation in the organization and tactics of rebel groups around the world. First, they propose to investigate whether and how rebel groups attempt to govern civilians in affected countries. Second, they ask whether such groups take steps to establish political legitimacy among citizens. Third, they study how and why the governance structures of rebel groups take the form they do. Finally, they assess how group-specific characteristics influenced government responses to them with respect to conflict and potential peace in affected areas. The workshop will bring together a group of scholars who draw upon a range of research methodologies to try to answer these questions. By including both qualitative and quantitative scholars, the workshop will ensure broad coverage of topics related to questions of rebel governance. The workshop promises significant broader impacts. The team includes a diverse set of scholars, and has a plan in place to publicize the findings to both academic and policy-based outlets. Technical Abstract The proposed workshop will bring together scholars to evaluate questions related to rebel group governance through multi-method approaches. In particular, the plan is to focus on a series of questions related to rebel group governance strategy and organization, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative social scientific approaches. Workshop participants will address a series of questions related to rebel group strategy and governance practices. First, they will investigate whether rebel groups attempt to govern civilians in affected areas. If so, they will study what forms such governance takes. Second, in situations defined by rebel governance, they will assess group strategy with respect to establishing political legitimacy as non-state actors. Third, they will evaluate the decisions regarding leadership and governance structures selected by the groups where applicable. Fourth, they assess state responses to the presence of rebel groups, and how those responses influenced conflict or facilitated peace. With a growing number of rebel groups emerging across the globe, it is particularly important to understand how such groups operate and how they attract support from citizens. Likewise, because they often utilize violence, understanding the responses by states is also crucial in order to understand what strategies work to mitigate violence. The workshop will draw from a diverse group of experts, representing an array of theoretical and methodological approaches to studying rebel groups. As such, the workshop holds promise to foster innovative approaches to studying the problem. The results will be presented widely, targeting both the academic and policy communities.