Ordering Violence: Explaining Armed Group-State Relations from Conflict to Cooperation

Paul Staniland's book "Ordering Violence" argues that governments' perception of ideological threats posed by armed groups drive their responses and interactions, combining a new dataset of state-group armed orders with case studies to explore patterns of repression, collusion, and mutual neglect across South Asia's complex armed politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2021
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In his book "Ordering Violence," Paul Staniland presents a comprehensive approach to armed politics, which brings together governments, insurgents, militias, and armed political parties within a shared framework. Staniland argues that governments' perception of the ideological threats posed by armed groups drives their responses and interactions. By combining a unique dataset of state-group armed orders in India, Pakistan, Burma/Myanmar, and Sri Lanka with detailed case studies from the region, Staniland explores when and how this model of threat perception provides insight into patterns of repression, collusion, and mutual neglect across nearly seven decades. Instead of merely responding to the material or organizational power of armed groups, Staniland finds that regimes assess how a group's politics align with their own ideological projects. For instance, he explains why governments often employ extreme repression against weak groups, even while working with or tolerating more powerful armed actors.

"Ordering Violence" offers a comprehensive overview of South Asia's complex armed politics, embedded within an analytical framework that has broader implications beyond the subcontinent. The book sheds light on the ways in which political ideologies, power dynamics, and social structures shape the interactions between governments, armed groups, and the communities they inhabit. By examining the case studies and data, Staniland provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by policymakers, activists, and scholars in the region.

Overall, "Ordering Violence" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that contributes to our understanding of armed politics and the complex dynamics of conflict in South Asia. It is a must-read for anyone interested in this field and beyond.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501761119