Hari P, Shyam
(2016)
Book Review: Networks of rebellion: Explaining insurgent cohesion and collapse by Paul Staniland (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2014).
Journal of Defence Studies, 10 (3).
pp. 97-101.
| Abstract: |
Insurgency and rebellion are often common lexicons appearing in
scholarly works on conflict. Perhaps the reason for this could be the
possible magnitude of impact of such events on overall humanity. The
capability of rebellions to lead to collapse, destabilisation or change
in the prevailing regimes has been elaborated innumerable times in
the narration of human history, but how far are the dynamics of such
phenomena understood. Paul Staniland’s book,
Networks of Rebellion:
Explaining Insurgent Cohesion and Collapse
, is an attempt to bridge the gaps
in existing research. The book begins by challenging the very ‘process of
understanding’ which exists in studies on conflicts. Staniland argues that
after the end of the Cold War, a significant amount of academic attention
was riveted on scrutinising the ‘resource and finance’ aspects of wars,
which also influenced the analysis on insurgent groups. He argues that
such attempts, though effective, are mostly partial due to the improper
importance accorded to the social and organisational characteristics of
the insurgent groups. Staniland contends that an increasing number of
academic contributions have provided prescriptive counsel to the state
for handling rebels, thereby creating ‘the problem of causal heterogeneity
[that] leads to platitudinous policy’ (p. 229). |
| Item Type: |
Journal Paper
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| Subjects: |
Doctoral Programme > PhD Scholar Publications
Programmes > Conflict Resolution Programme |
| Divisions: |
Schools > Conflict and Security Studies |
| Date Deposited: |
19 Jul 2016 05:29 |
| Last Modified: |
10 Jun 2021 18:37 |
| Official URL: |
http://idsa.in/system/files/jds/jds_10_3_2016_netw... |
| Related URLs: |
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| Funders: |
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| Projects: |
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| DOI: |
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| URI: |
http://eprints.nias.res.in/id/eprint/1133 |
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