Combatants in African Conflicts

<p>This book focuses on the different types of combatants in conflicts in Africa exploring the fine lines between what might be classified as a militia in one conflict a rebel in another or a terrorist in a third.</p><p>Drawing on the work of Carl von Clausewitz this book provides a conceptually stable and analytically sound new typology on combatants. Analysing the relationships between state and society and drawing on Clausewitz's Trinity of passion chance and reason the book presents a set of five types of armed actors: Professionals Praetorians Militias Insurgents and Mercenaries. Each type is developed through a close reading of foundational theoretical texts reviews of contemporary studies and a historical analysis of their unique characteristics. Unlike a reductionist binary perspective this typology accounts for the dynamic complex and evolving relationships of these actors with the state and society. </p><p>A typology of combatants in conflicts in Africa can provide avenues for more in-depth analysis of such conflicts and holds implications for Security Sector Reform projects and other peace-building programmes. As such this book will be an essential reference for scholars and students of African Politics and Military and Security Studies. </p>