This critically important book examines the importance of civilian agency and non-violent resistance when militant groups control territory. As violent Islamist groups have sought to control territory and establish proto states or Caliphates, Svensson and his coauthors examine what role civilians play? Contrary to expectations, non-violent resistance has succeeded against all odds and in the most coercive environments. Using original empirically grounded analyses and
original interviews, the book probes the 'political jiu-jitsu' of civil society and resistance confronting Jihadis in Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Syria, Yemen. It is a must read for students and scholars of conflict resolution and counter terrorism.
Isak Svensson is a Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at the Uppsala University, Sweden.
Daniel Finnbogason has been a research assistant at Uppsala University, and is Desk Officer at the Dialogue and Peace Mediation section at the Folke Bernadotte Academy.
Dino Krause has been a research assistant at Uppsala University, and is a PhD Candidate at the Danish Institute for International Studies and the University of Aarhus.
Luís Martínez Lorenzo has been a research assistant at Uppsala University, and is a research assistant at the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals.
Nanar Hawach has been a research assistant at Uppsala University, and is a PhD Candidate/Université libre de Bruxelles.