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Teaching from experience: foreign training and rebel success in civil War

Author

Listed:
  • Eric Keels

    (One Earth Future, USA)

  • Jay Benson

    (One Earth Future, USA)

  • Michael Widmeier

    (Webster University, USA)

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationship between rebel training from external sponsors and civil war outcomes. While past research has examined how foreign support, broadly, shapes the dynamics of civil wars, little attention has been paid to how foreign training of rebel fighters affects civil wars. We theorize that rebels that receive training from formerly successful rebels are more likely to experience favorable conflict outcomes than those with no training or with training from sponsors inexperienced with fighting a civil war. These propositions are tested with a quantitative analysis of all intrastate conflicts from 1975 to 2010, providing support for our hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Keels & Jay Benson & Michael Widmeier, 2021. "Teaching from experience: foreign training and rebel success in civil War," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 38(6), pages 696-717, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:compsc:v:38:y:2021:i:6:p:696-717
    DOI: 10.1177/0738894220912976
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Latife Kınay-Kılıç & Ersel Aydınlı & Efe Tokdemir, 2025. "Target state responses to external support of rebel groups: Revealing the impact of support level and interstate strategic interaction," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 42(5), pages 465-487, September.
    2. Juliana Tappe Ortiz, 2025. "Trained to rebel: Rebel leaders’ military training and the dynamics of civil conflicts," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 62(6), pages 1908-1922, November.

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