The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance Nexus

This paper explores the relationship between territorial penetration, control, and governance of violent non-state actors (VNSAs). The three concepts have been previously studied in isolation. However, this paper aims to fill a gap in the literature by linking them into a common framework. The arti...

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Main Author: Zdeněk Ludvík
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais 2025-05-01
Series:Estudos Internacionais
Subjects:
Online Access:https://periodicos.pucminas.br/estudosinternacionais/article/view/32218
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author Zdeněk Ludvík
author_facet Zdeněk Ludvík
author_sort Zdeněk Ludvík
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the relationship between territorial penetration, control, and governance of violent non-state actors (VNSAs). The three concepts have been previously studied in isolation. However, this paper aims to fill a gap in the literature by linking them into a common framework. The article establishes a causal link between three concepts using the process tracing method within three instrumental case studies of radical religious VNSAs: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamic State (Daesh), and Hezbollah. Within a given research framework, the analysis also identifies specific intervening phenomena and contextual factors that may have a causal influence on the nexus under study. The main source of primary data comprises open expert interviews conducted by the author. The article presents evidence that advanced non-state governance requires a sequence of sufficient material actor power (penetration, control), inclusive ideational power (ideology), and positive contextual influence. Only such a sequence of establishing VNSAs in the territory fulfils a necessary and sufficient condition for positively impacting their power and status.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2317-773X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais
record_format Article
series Estudos Internacionais
spelling doaj-art-dd9a1c8aa2ab4c51a3065f300bb785492025-08-20T03:47:24ZengPontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas GeraisEstudos Internacionais2317-773X2025-05-0112210.5752/P.2317-773X.2024v12n2p66-90The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance NexusZdeněk Ludvík0Ambis University This paper explores the relationship between territorial penetration, control, and governance of violent non-state actors (VNSAs). The three concepts have been previously studied in isolation. However, this paper aims to fill a gap in the literature by linking them into a common framework. The article establishes a causal link between three concepts using the process tracing method within three instrumental case studies of radical religious VNSAs: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamic State (Daesh), and Hezbollah. Within a given research framework, the analysis also identifies specific intervening phenomena and contextual factors that may have a causal influence on the nexus under study. The main source of primary data comprises open expert interviews conducted by the author. The article presents evidence that advanced non-state governance requires a sequence of sufficient material actor power (penetration, control), inclusive ideational power (ideology), and positive contextual influence. Only such a sequence of establishing VNSAs in the territory fulfils a necessary and sufficient condition for positively impacting their power and status. https://periodicos.pucminas.br/estudosinternacionais/article/view/32218Violent Non-State Actors; Territorial penetration; Territorial Control; Territorial Governance; Ideology.
spellingShingle Zdeněk Ludvík
The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance Nexus
Estudos Internacionais
Violent Non-State Actors; Territorial penetration; Territorial Control; Territorial Governance; Ideology.
title The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance Nexus
title_full The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance Nexus
title_fullStr The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance Nexus
title_full_unstemmed The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance Nexus
title_short The Territorial Penetration, Control, and Governance Nexus
title_sort territorial penetration control and governance nexus
topic Violent Non-State Actors; Territorial penetration; Territorial Control; Territorial Governance; Ideology.
url https://periodicos.pucminas.br/estudosinternacionais/article/view/32218
work_keys_str_mv AT zdenekludvik theterritorialpenetrationcontrolandgovernancenexus
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