Reports and articles

Roadblocks and Revenues: The Politics of Passage
Research Florian Weigand Research Florian Weigand

Roadblocks and Revenues: The Politics of Passage

From Afghanistan and Yemen and from Mali to Somalia, checkpoints are central to dynamics of armed conflict, funding insurgents, driving violence and shaping governance by various types of armed actors, state and non-state alike. A new working paper series on roadblocks and revenues sheds lights on checkpoints in conflict contexts across the world and provides a new window into dynamics of authority and power.

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Taliban Arms Management Practices
Research Florian Weigand Research Florian Weigand

Taliban Arms Management Practices

This paper argues that we should not see ‘political’ and ‘criminal’ groups as separate categories. Instead, we should envision a spectrum of motives and practices across all armed groups, regardless of how they are labelled.

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Rethinking Armed Group Control
Research ashley jackson Research ashley jackson

Rethinking Armed Group Control

Prevailing understandings of control – which focus on territorial dividing lines and acts of violence – are incomplete. Our paper argues that armed group control should instead be broken down according to how armed groups seek to influence populations.

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Beyond Greed: Why Armed Groups Tax
Research ashley jackson Research ashley jackson

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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Beyond Greed: Why Armed Groups Tax
Research ashley jackson Research ashley jackson

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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