Armed group economies
Our work explores armed group economic control and motives. Part of this work currently focuses on armed groups taxation. Taxes not only allows them to raise revenue but also to entrench their authority - and expand their control.
Yet there has been relatively little work in this field. As a result, there is little insight into how armed groups tax and the practical implications. For example, how does it shape their relationship with civilians? Does it impact conflict duration, or the likelihood of a successful peace process?
The Armed Group Tax research programme, a partnership between the International Centre for Tax and Development and the Centre on Armed Groups, seeks a deeper understanding of armed group taxation, and the consequences.
Research
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Taliban Arms Management Practices
This paper explores how the Taliban have attempted to monitor and control small arms at the national level since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
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Beyond Greed: Why Armed Groups Tax
Surveying the existing literature, this ICTD Working Paper argues that a deeper understanding of armed group taxation, the motivations behind it, and the implications it has for an armed group’s relationship with civilian and diaspora populations, as well as the broader international community.
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Beyond Greed: Why Armed Groups Tax
Based on a review of armed group taxation practices, this journal article argues that armed group motives go beyond revenue. It explores explanations related to ideology, legitimacy, institution building, control of populations, and the performance of public authority.
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Taliban Taxation in Afghanistan (2006-2021)
Before taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban had developed a remarkably state-like revenue collection system throughout the country. This ICTD research explores how that came to be, and what factors shaped the various forms of Taliban taxation.
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Conflict and Transnational Crime: Borders, Bullets & Business in Southeast Asia
Exploring the links between armed conflict and transnational crime, Florian Weigand builds on in-depth empirical research into some of Southeast Asia’s murkiest borders. The disparate voices of drug traffickers, rebel fighters, government officials and victims of armed conflict are heard in Conflict and Transnational Crime, exploring perspectives that have been previously disregarded in understanding the field.