What question did this study set out to answer?

This research explores why armed groups cooperatively engage in high-end activities such as training and intelligence-sharing, while managing associated risks.

July 19, 2026Political Science Research and Methods1 citationsOpen Access

A principal–agent theory and network analysis of high-end cooperation among militant groups

IOIlayda B. OnderTexas A&M University

Key Points

This research explores why armed groups cooperatively engage in high-end activities such as training and intelligence-sharing, while managing associated risks.
Analyzed original network data on 53 militant groups in Northeast India from 1981 to 2021.
Employed temporal exponential random graph models to assess patterns of cooperation and capacity differentials.
Identified the importance of complementary skills and distinct political constituencies.
High-end cooperation is more likely in groups with organizational capacity differences and complementary skills.
Cooperation aligns with distinct constituencies of each group, influencing collaborative dynamics.
Findings suggest that militant alliances emerge from competitive threat perceptions, adjusting understanding of multiparty conflicts.

Abstract

Abstract This study develops a principal–agent theory of why armed groups engage in high-end cooperation involving training or intelligence. While such cooperation enhances capacity, it generates downstream risks. Principals mitigate these risks by selecting agents who are skill-wise complementary but politically non-substitutable. Agents accept high-end support when doing so does not leave them politically overshadowed by a dominant actor. Using original network data on 53 groups in Northeast India (1981–2021) and temporal exponential random graph models, I show that high-end cooperation is more likely in dyads characterized by organizational capacity differentials, complementary attack portfolios, and distinct constituencies. The findings recast militant alliances as products of competitive threat perception and carry broader implications for the study of multiparty conflicts.

问 AI

Bookmark

View Full Paper