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Some rebel groups abuse noncombatant populations, while others exhibit restraint. Insurgent leaders in some countries transform local structures of government, while others simply extract resources for their own benefit. In some contexts, groups kill their victims selectively, while in other environments violence appears indiscriminate, even random. This book presents a theory that accounts for the different strategies pursued by rebel groups in civil war, explaining why patterns of insurgent violence vary so much across conflicts. It does so by examining the membership, structure, and behavior of four insurgent movements in Uganda, Mozambique, and Peru. Drawing on interviews with nearly two hundred combatants and civilians who experienced violence firsthand, it shows that rebels' strategies depend in important ways on how difficult it is to launch a rebellion. The book thus demonstrates how characteristics of the environment in which rebellions emerge constrain rebel organization and shape the patterns of violence that civilians experience

It is argued that in much of Africa, the barriers to entry for rebel movements are far too low. Rebel leaders don't need to turn to civilians for resources necessary to overthrow weak states, meaning war is cheap, and legitimacy doesn't depend on popular support, but rather on achieving control of the capital city. Adapted from the source document.

How does the resource base of a rebel group impact its membership, structure, and behavior? While scholars, analysts, and policy makers increasingly link natural resources to the onset and duration of civil war, this article explores how resource endowments shape the character and conduct of rebel groups. This article identifies a rebel "resource curse" much like the one that undermines state institutions in resource-rich environments. While the presence of economic endowments makes it possible for leaders to recruit on the basis of short-term rewards, these groups are flooded with opportunistic joiners who exhibit little commitment to the long-term goals of the organization. In resource-poor environments, leaders attract new recruits by drawing on social ties to make credible promises about the private rewards that will come with victory. Opportunistic joiners stay away from these movements, leaving a pool of activist recruits willing to invest their time and energy in the hope of reaping large gains in the future.

In its relations with Peru, the United States has historically placed
greatest emphasis on fighting the war on drugs. As Sendero Luminoso,
The Shining Path, led an insurgency against the Peruvian government in
the 1980s and 1990s, the United States provided ample support against
the terrorists located in the jungle, especially those participating
in the drug trade. But Peru's victory over terrorism then was due
more to improved police intelligence and increased public investment,
rather than success in the war on drugs. Now, in the midst of economic
troubles and a difficult transition back to democracy in Peru, the
Shining Path has made a resurgence. The United States again faces a
choice about how to proceed—to continue focusing on the war on
drugs or to provide sustained levels of investment in Peru's economy
and political institutions, thereby turning this war on terror into a
war on poverty.

In its relations with Peru, the US has historically placed greatest emphasis on fighting the war on drugs. As Sendero Luminoso, the Shining Path, led an insurgency against the Peruvian government in the 1980s & 1990s, the US provided ample support against the terrorists located in the jungle, especially those participating in the drug trade. But Peru's victory over terrorism then was due more to improved police intelligence & increased public investment; rather than success in the war on drugs. Now, in the midst of economic troubles & a difficult transition back to democracy in Peru, the Shining Path has made a resurgence. The US again faces a choice about how to proceed -- to continue focusing on the war on drugs or to provide sustained levels of investment in Peru's economy & political institutions, thereby turning this war on terror into a war on poverty. 1 Map. Adapted from the source document.