Citation

Eastin J, Zech ST. Stud. Conflict Terrorism 2022; 45(9): 817-841.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1057610X.2019.1700029

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

What motivates civilians to fight in a progovernment militia? This article draws on survey and interview data from active members of Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU), a progovernment militia in the Philippines, to evaluate why individuals enlist. We find poverty and unemployment to be key drivers of group membership, and the biggest attraction a steady paycheck. This situation presents a moral hazard for the Philippine government and other states that rely on impoverished citizens to wage counterinsurgency: while doing so can be cost-effective, the need to keep costs low might also impede efforts at socioeconomic or political reform.

Language: en