Western Intervention and Informal Politics

Simulated Statebuilding and Failed Reforms
1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-1-032-07007-0
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 210 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 487 g

Reihe: Routledge Studies in Intervention and Statebuilding

This book examines the political and military dynamic between threatened local regimes and Western powers, and it argues that the power of informal politics forces local regimes to simulate statebuilding.

Reforms enabling local states to take care of their own terrorist and insurgency threats are a blueprint for most Western interventions to provide a way out of protracted internal conflicts. Yet, local regimes most often fail to implement reforms that would have strengthened their hand. This book examines why local regimes derail the reforms demanded by Western powers when they rely on their support to stay in power during existentially threatening violent crises. Based on the political settlement framework, the author analyses how web-like networks of militarized elites require local regimes to use informal politics to stay in power. Four case studies of Western intervention are presented: Iraq (2011-2018), Mali (2011-2020), Chad (2005-2010), and Algeria (1991-2000). These studies demonstrate that informal politics narrows strategic possibilities and forces regimes to rely on coup-proofing military strategies, to continue their alliances with militias and former insurgents, and to simulate statebuilding reforms to solve the dilemma of satisfying militarized elites and Western powers at the same time.

This book will be of much interest to students of statebuilding, international intervention, counter-insurgency, civil wars, and international relations.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Henningsen, Troels Burchall

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Militärgeschichte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Diplomatie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Militärwesen Nationale und Internationale Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Friedens- und Konfliktforschung
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Internationale Organisationen und Institutionen
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Staatsbürgerkunde, Staatsbürgerschaft, Zivilgesellschaft

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. The puzzle of non-cooperative, but existentially threatened regimes 2. Informal politics and regime strategy 3. Chad: turning friends into enemies and enemies into friends 4. Mali: counterinsurgency by clients and patron 5. Iraq: fighting the Islamic State with an unstable alliance 6. Algeria: security institutions fighting for their survival 7. Do politics, organizations, or persons derail reforms? 8. Betting on institutions or persons?

Über Autor(innen)

Troels Burchall Henningsen is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Strategy and War Studies at the Royal Danish Defence College.