Why Rebels Govern: Explaining Islamist Militant Governance and Public Goods Provision - Studies of Hezbollah, Hamas, and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Legitimacy and Territorial Control

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Rebel groups and insurgencies have been an important topic of study for several decades, particularly with the rise and success of groups like Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the Islamic State. When rebel groups such as these are discussed in the media and in popular culture, they are generally portrayed purely as violent organizations bent on imposing strict religious doctrines on an unwilling population. Often missing in these discussions are the nuances of how rebel groups actually act and operate. There are numerous cases of rebel groups gaining territory and governing over their constituents effectively and efficiently—sometimes better than the official state government. Using across-case and within-case analysis of Hezbollah, Hamas, and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), this thesis explains why Islamist militant groups choose to provide governance and public goods to a population instead of primarily using coercive violence to achieve their goals. Ultimately, this thesis finds that rebel legitimacy and territorial control along with overall group capability are the most important factors behind rebel governance.

Rebel groups and insurgencies have been an important topic of study for several decades, particularly with the rise and success of groups like Hezbollah, al Qaeda, Hamas, and the Islamic State. When rebel groups such as these are discussed in the media and in popular culture, they are generally portrayed solely as violent and ruthless organizations bent on imposing strict religious doctrines on an unwilling population. Often missing in these discussions are the nuances of how rebel groups actually act and operate. Although 70 percent of rebel groups do not provide public goods or services, there are numerous cases of rebel groups gaining territory and governing over their constituents effectively and efficiently—sometimes better than the official state government.

Apart from the Islamic State, al Qaeda and its affiliates have been the most concerning insurgent groups for the United States and its allies for two decades. Western countries and their Middle Eastern allies have experienced thousands of civilian and military casualties at the hands of al Qaeda, and the study of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) remains vital to the security of Western countries and their allies. The United States has also remained concerned with the strength and operations of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon since the 1980s, in part due to the United States' close relationship with Israel. Interestingly, despite their designation as terrorist organizations, all three groups have displayed strong elements of rebel governance and have provided goods and services to their constituents.