Resistance against Mass Atrocities Perpetrated by Jihadist Militants
Civilians have resisted atrocities committed by jihadist militants through different strategies such as political alliances and violent resistance. These strategies raise important questions related to the dynamics of resistance and escalation.
On 9 January 2023 the Mass Atrocity Resistance project convened a workshop on resistance efforts against jihadi violence. The online event featured presentations by Dr Jacob Eriksson (University of York) and PhD candidate Imrana Buba (University of Oslo), who respectively discussed cases of resistance against atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in North-Western Iraq and by Boko Haram in Nigeria. This post summarizes the presentations and provides an overview of the most relevant takeaways from the discussion:
Jacob Eriksson’s presentation, Fight and Flight: Yazidi Responses to ISIS Genocide, addressed the ways in which the Yazidi minority in Iraq has responded to the atrocities inflicted upon them by ISIS. To protect themselves from genocidal attacks, various Yazidi communities formed self-defence militias and established alliances with powerful actors. However, these strategies have not been without challenges, as many of the groups’ dependence on external sponsorship has significantly reduced their political influence in the region. Additionally, the effectiveness of self-defence and ‘bandwagoning’ in protecting Yazidi community and promoting their long-term interests is difficult to measure. Despite efforts to address the political situation in the region, the security landscape remains divided and the lack of sustainable living conditions continues to pose a challenge to the Yazidi community’s survival, even if the level of violence no longer constitutes an existential threat.
Imrana Buba’s presentation, Violent Resistance and the Dynamics of Boko Haram Violence in North-Eastern Nigeria, focused on the unintended consequences of civilian defence militias in response to the Boko Haram insurgency in North-Eastern Nigeria. Imrana presented insights from his ongoing doctoral research project, which seeks to determine whether armed resistance reduces the risk of atrocities or, on the contrary, contributes to perpetuating the victimization of those seeking to defend themselves. By analysing the patterns of Boko Haram’s violent activities in four different phases of escalation, Imrana’s study found that the formation of self-defence militias led to a heightened risk of retaliatory violence by Boko Haram, as well as a greater risk of attracting deterrent violence. Imrana’s findings also showed that communities with strong leadership, social cohesion, and tactical knowledge are more successful in forming self-defence militias, while state-initiated militias are less effective. In understanding the impact of armed resistance on mass atrocity dynamics, it is thus crucial to consider the unintended consequences of certain strategies.
Key takeaways from the workshop:
The formation of self-defence groups is a common form of resistance against atrocities perpetrated by jihadists. However, the presence of civilian militias can unintentionally attract violence or contribute to its escalation.
The effectiveness of self-defence depends on factors such as strong leadership, tactical knowledge, and social cohesion in the community.
Persecuted groups may often form alliances with powerful actors to ensure protection. Although ‘bandwagoning’ implies a certain degree of affinity between the parties, it often involves political trade-offs that can further fracture contested security landscapes.
There is a need to better understand what constitutes an existing ‘threat’ of mass atrocities. Even in circumstances where violence no longer poses an existential threat, a lack of sustainable living conditions and displacement may constitute fundamental challenges to continued survival.
Inter-communal mediation and coexistence projects should be mindful of the different expectations of those involved. Notions of stability and sustainability may vary among different groups of victims.
Jihadi violence inevitably utilizes religion as a frame of reference, making it difficult to distinguish between geo-strategic attacks and those grounded on purely ideological motives.
Studying resistance strategies as both causes and consequences of violence can provide invaluable insights into the dynamics of mass atrocities.