Browsing by Author "Sedashov, E."

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Open Access
Rebel rivalry and the strategic nature of rebel group ideology and demands
(SAGE Publications, 2021) Tokdemir, Efe; Sedashov, E.; Öğütçü-Fu, S. H.; Leon, C. E. M.; Berkowitz, J.; Akçınaroğlu, S.
How does the presence of multiple combatants affect rebel groups’ ideological and demand positioning? Although violent forms of inter-group conflict have been widely studied in the civil war literature, rebel groups’ strategic use of ideology and demands has received scarce scholarly attention. We argue that the pressure of competition forces rebel groups to differentiate themselves ideologically and demand-wise from their rivals to maximize their chances of survival and success. Rebel groups strive to set themselves apart by offering unique products to their supporters and recruits. Thus, we contend that rebel groups are more likely to modify their ideologies and demands from the government in the face of competition from rival groups. We test this theory using novel data collected from rebel group manifestos and public statements. Our findings suggest that groups are more likely to shift their ideology and modify their demands as the number of rival groups increases.
Open Access
Unique offerings: Ideological competition and rebel governance
(Sage Publications Ltd., 2025-01-23) Akçınaroğlu, S.; Berkowitz, J.; Leon, C.E.M.; Ogutcu-Fu, S.H.; Sedashov, E.; Tokdemir, Efe
This study examines the factors influencing non-state armed actors’ (NSAAs) ability and willingness to implement rebel governance, with a focus on the group’s ideological distinction from adversaries and the government. We argue that a unique ideology acts as an effective branding tool, enhancing governance success as constituents recognize and align with it. This ideology allows NSAAs to offer a distinct social contract to their followers with minimal risk, fostering strong relationships with their constituents, and hence benefits from such governance. We propose that rebel governance increases when NSAAs are ideologically distinct from other armed factions and the state. We validate our hypotheses using the Rebel Quasi-State Institutions dataset, an original dataset on armed groups’ ideologies, and the Database for Political Institutions for government ideology. This study is the first to explore the link between an armed group’s distinct ideology and its governance capacity in multi-party settings, and offers a novel contribution to the burgeoning literature on group ideology and rebel governance.