TOPIC 5: CONTEMPORARY VIOLENT NON-STATE ACTORS
5.0.
CONTEMPORARY VIOLENT NON-STATE ACTORS
5.1.
Introduction
This topic focuses on contemporary non-state armed groups that use violence as both a
means and a tool to advance their political objectives. It singles out violent groups that have
also been labelled as 'terrorist' organizations and examines Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, the
Palestinian Liberation Organization, Hamas, Taliban, ISIS, Boko Haram, the Houthis and
Al Shabaab.
5.2.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this topic, the learner should be in a position to:
o Explain what violent non-state actor groups are.
o Account for the rise in the number of violent armed groups.
o Discuss the major challenges that states face in dealing with these groups.
o Analyze the impact of these groups towards the maintenance of international peace
and security.
5.3.
What are Violent Non-State Actors?
These are non-state players that are usually armed and who use violence as a means and
strategy towards pursuing their political goals and objectives.
This is attributable to a number of factors:
1. A quest to justify their legitimacy and their legitimate claim to political participation.
2. Due to their perceived military disadvantage when compared to states and other nonstate actors.
3. The use of violence as a weapon for instilling fear.
4. Owing to their non-conventional nature as actors which hinder their legal
recognition as entities with rights and obligations.
5. Deep seated bitterness and hatred against or towards a segment of the population.
6. Easy access to the means and instruments of violence.
7. Their feeling of inferiority as groups which predisposes them to violence to ‘send a
message’ or ‘make a statement’.
BIRD 402-TERRORISM AND MILITIA POLITICS- ERIC J. IRUNGU
Contacts: eric.irungu@zetech.ac.ke or 0711344739/0737870461
TOPIC 5: CONTEMPORARY VIOLENT NON-STATE ACTORS
5.4.
Challenges Faced by States and Other Actors in Dealing with/Combating these
Violent Armed Groups
States and other actors responding to these groups face immense challenges:
1. The unconventional nature of these groups- this makes them not to operate within
the confines of the law (municipal and international) in terms of their goals,
objectives, methods and strategies.
2. Their capacity to blend in the general population- this enhances their capacity to
hide within the population, operate without detection, use civilian populations as
human shields etc.
3. Foreign state and non-state support to these groups.
4. Support and sympathy from the general population- This may be voluntary or
involuntary political, economic, military and/or religious support.
5. The transnational nature of the operations of these groups- e.g. ISIL, Taliban,
Boko Haram operations in their various regions cutting across states.
6. Weak intelligence gathering capacity on these groups and their operations.
7. Weak state capacities to militarily respond to their activities e.g. the failed state
capacity in Syria to confront and address the problem of ISIL/ISIS/Dhaesh or the
Houthi problem in Yemen.
8. The guerilla nature of the operations of these groups.
9. Their propensity to strike at soft targets and retreat.
10. Lack of morale in the military elements confronting them e.g. low morale in the
Afghan National Army (ANA) confronting Taliban and ISIL affiliated armed
groups.
11. Lack of the requisite fighting infrastructure and machinery e.g. military equipment
etc.
5.5.
Contemporary Violent Groups
In recent times, the danger posed by the following groups warrants special attention as these
impact on the maintenance of international peace and security:
1. Al Qaeda.
2. Hezbollah.
3. Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)-its splinter units of Hamas and Fattah.
BIRD 402-TERRORISM AND MILITIA POLITICS- ERIC J. IRUNGU
Contacts: eric.irungu@zetech.ac.ke or 0711344739/0737870461
TOPIC 5: CONTEMPORARY VIOLENT NON-STATE ACTORS
4. Hamas.
5. Taliban.
6. Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)/ISIL/Dhaesh.
7. Boko Haram.
8. Al Shabaab (Somalia).
9. Al Shabaab (Mozambique).
10. Houthis (Yemen).
BIRD 402-TERRORISM AND MILITIA POLITICS- ERIC J. IRUNGU
Contacts: eric.irungu@zetech.ac.ke or 0711344739/0737870461
TOPIC 5: CONTEMPORARY VIOLENT NON-STATE ACTORS
Review Questions:
1) Discuss the major factors that are behind the rise of many violent non-state armed groups.
2) What is the impact that violent armed non-state actor groups have on the maintenance of
international peace and security?
3) Discuss the major strategies that states can use to counter violent armed groups.
References for Further Reading:
Schuberth, M. (2015), ‘The Challenge of Community-Based Armed Groups: Towards a
Conceptualization of Militias, Gangs, and Vigilantes’. Contemporary Security Policy
Vol.36, No.2, 2015, pp.1 –25.
Vanda, F.B. (2020), ‘The Problem with Militias in Somalia: Almost Everyone Wants Them
Despite Their Dangers’ In Day, A. (Ed.) Hybrid Conflict, Hybrid Peace: How Militias
and Paramilitary Groups Shape Post-Conflict Transitions. New York: United Nations
University.
BIRD 402-TERRORISM AND MILITIA POLITICS- ERIC J. IRUNGU
Contacts: eric.irungu@zetech.ac.ke or 0711344739/0737870461