| ID | 143538 |
| Title Proper | Armed groups and the politics of legitimacy |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Schlichte, Klaus ; Schneckener, Ulrich |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article serves as an introduction to a special section on the question of the legitimacy of non-state armed groups. Starting with a short discussion of the literature on armed groups as political actors, the authors emphasize the importance of the often-underestimated dimension of legitimacy. After having conceptualized legitimacy in more detail, the article addresses three key challenges armed groups usually face regarding the politics of legitimacy: first, they need to legitimize the use of violent means; second, for moral and material support, they depend on beliefs of legitimacy; and third, they need to simultaneously address various domestic and international audiences. Finally, the authors highlight a number of pending questions for further research on armed groups. |
| `In' analytical Note | Civil Wars Vol. 17, No.4; Dec 2015: p.409-424 |
| Journal Source | Civil Wars Vol: 17 No 4 |
| Key Words | Armed Groups ; Politics of Legitimacy |