Pro¬- Government Armed Groups: A Source of Peace or Multipliers of Conflict?

Non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are often associated with those that act in opposition to governments – such as insurgents, terrorists and rebels – and are the subject of significant analysis. Less frequently considered are NSAGs with links to governments and that operate in support of government strategies by waging counter-insurgency campaigns. A systematic analysis of the nature of these pro-government armed groups and their socio-political-economic impacts is necessary as it can assist our understanding of the dynamics of internal armed conflicts and facilitate the long-term resolution of such conflicts through better peacebuilding strategies.