Foreign Foundations: The Role of Foreign States in Armed Group Formation

• In Event: Unconventional Victories: Origins, Consequences, and Resilience of Rebel Success

Abstract

States often seek to employ rebel group proxies as a low-cost means to achieve foreign policy objectives. But what if a state cannot find a compatible rebel group with which to partner? In this paper, I argue that states with limited rebel proxy options can instead facilitate the formation of new rebel groups tailored to fit state goals and serve as state proxies. I expect that the resulting “foreign founded” rebel groups will be highly capable organizations because of their unique access to sponsor resources. I test this expectation with an original dataset on state involvement in armed group formation and a case study of Iranian proxies based on declassified documents. I find that foreign founded groups received greater capabilities and engaged in higher levels of violence compared to rebels that formed without direct state support. This paper is the first to examine the phenomenon of state-sponsored group formation and measure its prevalence and implications for armed conflict. Its findings provide evidence that foreign states play a prominent role in the proliferation of capable and violent rebel groups.

Author

• Kaitlyn Robinson, Rice University