Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis book is a must-read. * A. B. Al-Deen, CHOICE *
Confronting the Caliphate is a rich, creative and thoughtful exploration of the conditions under which some civilians pushed back against jihadist rule. A combination of methods and examination of multiple cases allows the authors to make a significant contribution to an understudied dimension of jihadist insurgencies. * Marc Lynch, The George Washington University *
Civil resistance is possible even in the most rigid and cruel regimes, as this eye-opening study reveals. In both direct and subtle ways, rebellious subjects have engaged in protests, non-cooperation, and other means of defying the Islamic State. Utilizing sophisticated data sets, this able team of scholars has mapped the kind of participants and conditions in which civil resistance is possible, and gauged the possibilities for its success. This book is a landmark in peace and conflict studies and deserves a wide reading by scholars, policy-makers, and anyone concerned about how citizens can respond to oppressive regimes. * Mark Juergensmeyer, author of When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends *
Svensson and coauthors have made an important and deeply researched contribution to our understanding of civilian agency under conditions of rebel governance with "Confronting the Caliphate," filling an important gap in a literature that has focused more on the determinants of support and collaboration with non-state armed groups and less on the equally important outcome of resistance. * Mara Redlich Revkin, Associate Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law *
This critically important book examines the importance of civilian agency and non-violent resistance when militant groups control territory. As violent Islamist groups have sought to control territory and establish proto states or Caliphates, Svensson and his coauthors examine what role civilians play? Contrary to expectations, non-violent resistance has succeeded against all odds and in the most coercive environments. Using original empirically grounded analyses and original interviews, the book probes the 'political jiu-jitsu' of civil society and resistance confronting Jihadis in Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Syria, Yemen. It is a must read for students and scholars of conflict resolution and counter terrorism. * Mia Bloom, New America and Georgia State University *
