Citation

Desgrais N, Guichaoua Y, Lebovich A. Small Wars Insurg. 2018; 29(4): 654-679.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09592318.2018.1488403

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Our paper investigates the political trajectories of armed actors in Mali since 2012, using recent theoretical advances on alliance formation and collapse in civil wars. Our paper establishes an analytically productive distinction between levels of wartime cleavages and factors shaping groups' trajectories. Strategic alliances, we argue, emerge from anticipated benefits on the national political scene as well as in the local political economy. The two sets of considerations do not necessarily converge. This dual logic is studied through the cases of two armed groups, both siding with the government after originally aligning with jihadi and separatist coalitions respectively.

Language: en

Keywords

Alliance; civil war; Mali