Speaker: Christopher Anzalone, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, International Security Program

The advent of Islamist rebel governing projects in different regions of the world from Africa to the Middle East and West and South Asia provides an opportunity to link the empirical study of these groups with the broader academic literature on rebel governance, political Islam, and religion and violence. Despite in recent years making up a larger number of empirical cases of insurgent organizations seeking to implement governance projects, Islamist organizations have to date received limited focus in studies on the structures, ideologies, and dynamics of rebel governance. This interdisciplinary project examines the strategies and experiences of Islamist insurgent organizations that have actively attempted to set up civil governing systems through which to interact with local civilian populations. It situates the study of Islamist insurgent groups with governance ambitions within the growing literature on rebel governance.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.

Speaker: Christopher Anzalone, Research Fellow, International Security Program

Drawing on collected jihadi-insurgent primary source materials and group histories, this seminar examines the organizational and local dynamics at play within regional Sunni jihadi-insurgent organizations to explain why and when there have been defections and shifts in loyalty from Al-Qa'ida and its regional affiliates to Islamic State.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.