From Sinners to Saviours:
How Non-State Armed Groups use service delivery to achieve domestic legitimacy
Anthony Sequeira
Excellent Dissertation Prize and Best Overall Performance,
MSc International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies (2015)
Abstract
This study aims to examine how non‐state armed groups (NSAG) use service provision as a tool for achieving legitimacy. Drawing on state‐formation, state‐building and taxation‐governance theory, three core processes are identified that define the relationship between service provision and legitimation. These relate to building capacity through a bureaucratic infrastructure, developing accountability to the population through a bargaining process, and forging and maintaining a social contract. This study tests how valid these processes are when transferred to a non-state context, and how relevant they are for developing a general theory on the legitimation of NSAGs.
Keywords
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Non-state armed groups (NSAG)
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Service provision
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State-formation
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State-building
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Taxation-governance
Download the dissertation here.