This book investigates the ways in which the lethality of terrorist violence depends on how rebel organizations finance their rebellion.
The leaders of rebel groups make calculated decisions on the intensity of terrorism killings, considering the benefits and costs of targeting non-combatants against the financing needs of their organization. The study specifically focuses on analyzing the effects of different external financing options available to rebel groups and takes into account the role of local populations in making financing available. This comparative approach to external financing reveals new hypotheses that are empirically verified and differ from the expectations and findings of prior research. The book's findings are relevant to policy discussions on counter-insurgency strategies that prioritize protecting populations from human rights abuses. Existing doctrines tend to overlook the potential impact of targeted efforts to isolate insurgents from specific financing sources on the capacity to secure local populations.
This book will be of interest to students of civil wars, terrorism studies, political violence, and security studies.
Introduction
1. Benefits and Costs of Terrorism Vs. Conventional Warfare
2. Empirical Trends of External Financing
3. External Financing and the Lethality of Terrorism
4. External Non-State Supporters and the Lethality of Terrorism
5. Empirical Analysis
Conclusions For Theory and Policy
Appendix
Biography
Margherita Belgioioso is Lecturer in Quantitative International Relations, at the University of Leeds, UK.
'Rebel Financing and Terrorism in Civil Wars is a great book on a highly important topic. It is a must-read for anyone interested in civil war, terrorism, or the funding of militant organizations.'
Brian J Phillips, University of Essex, UK
'Rebel Financing and Terrorism in Civil Wars brings together several literatures to produce a comprehensive analysis of the link between rebel group financing and strategic use of terrorism. Using both case studies and quantitative data, Belgioioso investigates different sets of financing actors and her conclusions both reinforce and challenge conventional wisdoms on armed group financing patterns and the nature of violence groups engage in. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding rebel financing, rebel constituencies, and rebel use of terrorism in civil conflicts.'
James A. Piazza, Liberal Arts Professor of Political Science, The Pennsylvania State University, US
'Belgioioso argues that how rebellion is financed strongly impacts the incentives of dissidents to resort to terrorist attacks. Terrorist tactics are often logistically easier but can undermine domestic legitimacy through harm to civilians. However, Belgioioso shows that such costs figure less prominently when rebel groups have access to external and more diverse financing, which makes them less reliant on local support. Belgioioso also identifies the impact of various sources of financing that were previously not studied in the literature. This book underscores the value of identifying variation in sources of funding and substitution, and it deserves to be read by all those interested in rebel tactic choice and civilian victimization.'
Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, University of Essex, UK, and Peace Research Institute Oslo, Norway
'Belgioioso convincingly demonstrates that the sources of finance for insurgent groups affect their targeting of civilians with terrorist attacks. Rebel Financing and Terrorism in Civil Wars offers rich theoretical arguments employing sophisticated statistical analysis and detailed case studies with profound policy implications.'
Scott Gates, Research Professor, Peace Research Institute Oslo, Norway
