Dissertation
Who is governance for?: the foundations and consequences of rebel governance styles
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Summer 2025
DOI: 10.25820/etd.008175
Abstract
Why do some rebel groups build schools, regulate communities, and engage international organizations while others neglect governance altogether? Existing work on rebel governance has made important advances in conceptualizing and measuring rebel governance, but fails to capture the diversity of governance styles rebels adopt to deal with different types of actors. This dissertation develops and tests a novel framework for understanding rebel governance as a multidimensional and relational phenomenon. I identify five distinct styles of rebel governance – civilian, elite, international, economic, and local – each reflecting different strategic logics and relationships between rebel groups and the actors they seek to influence. Drawing on original data covering 140 rebel groups from 1945 to 2012, I show that rebel governance not only varies but reflects the agency rebels have in building relationships with many types of actors. Using this framework, I test two key arguments. First, I argue that a group’s capacity, both its absolute resources and its strength relative to the state, shapes whether and how it governs. Second, I contend that rebel governance decisions are signals to external states, who respond selectively to different governance styles.
Across a range of statistical models, I find that stronger groups are more capable of governing, but that rebels with moderate relative strength are the most likely to do so. I also show that governance style matters in terms of rebels’ ability to garner external support. I find that governance focused on providing public goods and prioritizing civilians more broadly, are less likely to get external support. However, governance styles that reflect strong organizational capacity and control, while being less beholden to civilians, are more likely to receive external support. These findings advance our understanding of wartime political order, and the strategic choices rebels make in conflict zones and the agency they have to do so.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Who is governance for?: the foundations and consequences of rebel governance styles
- Creators
- Nathan Timbs
- Contributors
- Sara Mitchell (Advisor)Elizabeth Menninga (Advisor)Brian Lai (Committee Member)Megan Stewart (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Political Science
- Date degree season
- Summer 2025
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.008175
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xiii, 175 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Nathan Timbs
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 07/26/2025
- Description illustrations
- illustrations (some color), color map
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 146-160).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
During civil wars, many rebel groups do more than fight they govern. Some open schools, set up courts, or run local police forces. Others rely solely on violence. Why do some groups govern while others do not? And what does this behavior tell us about their goals and their chances of success? This dissertation examines how and why rebel groups govern. It shows that governance is not one-size-fits-all. Instead, rebels adopt different styles depending on their resources and what they want to achieve. Some focus on winning over civilians, others on gaining support from powerful elites or international actors. Using new data on 140 rebel groups from around the world from 1945-2012, this project reveals five distinct styles of rebel governance: civilian, elite, international, economic, and local. I find that better-resourced rebels are more capable of governing, but only when they have legitimate reasons to do so. Rebels that are strong enough to win a war outright choose not to govern while the weakest lack the ability to do so. These governance strategies are often aimed at building legitimacy and attracting outside support, so many rebels only choose to do it when necessary or they are able to. I also show that rebel governance is about more than just control. It s about signaling strength, building alliances, and shaping relationships with outside actors. By understanding how rebels govern, new insights into the nature of war and the challenges civilians face can be used to help mitigate the effects of conflict in our world today.
- Academic Unit
- Political Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984948640902771
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