| Summary/Abstract |
How do foreign fighters affect militant group behavior? Recent studies have examined the impact of foreign fighters on broader conflict outcomes, but we explore their specific impact on group behavior. Using foreign fighter data, we find that the presence of foreign fighters is positively related to group longevity, use of suicide operations, and the geographic spread of its operations. We elaborate on these findings in a case study of foreign fighters in al-Shabaab. This article provides important contributions to both scholarship and policy, elucidating the ideological and logistical impact of foreign fighters on tactics, target choices, and group lifespan.
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