Rebel Intra-Group Politics

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Scholars have advanced numerous explanations for rebels’ recruitment practices, yet, how rebel organizations coordinate role allocation among their recruits is still largely a black-box. Similarly, the role of mid-ranking commanders within rebel organizations has been extensively theorized, yet we have little understanding of which combatants have a greater chance of ascending to mid-ranking leadership positions. I examine promotion to mid-ranking leadership positions, using original combatant-level data on the PKK’s (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) fallen fighters. I find strong empirical support for my central argument that combatant social embeddedness holds significant consequences for role allocation within rebel organizations: combatants, who have stronger community ties to rebels’ local constituency, prior non-violent activist ties to the broader rebel movement, and existing family ties to the rebel group are more likely to ascend to mid-ranking commandership positions.