Overview

This book uses Boko Haram as a case study to delve into the operations of extremist groups in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on the unique cultural contexts in which they function. The book explores how such groups navigate ethnically diverse environments and manage to forge a sense of collective homogeneity, even in the face of internal diversity. Drawing from first-hand interviews with ex-fighters and a thorough examination of the group's operational dynamics—including recruitment, indoctrination, combat leadership, and unit behaviour—the book identifies moments when, despite Boko Haram's aim to transcend ethnic boundaries, ethnicity nonetheless becomes a defining factor within specific combatant units. It develops a theoretical framework to explain these instances, building on and extending existing socialisation theories to understand when and why socialisation processes fail, ultimately causing ethnicity to resurface within these units. By exploring how tribal and ethnic considerations influence the group's functioning, this book provides a more nuanced understanding of contemporary insurgent groups and the social forces that shape them. This book will be of much interest to students of political violence, African politics, and security studies.

Full Product Details

9781032890432

Table of Contents

Reviews

'Makena Micheni has achieved a remarkable balance here of accessibility and sophistication. For those new to the topic of Boko Haram, the book lays out core dimensions of the conflict and how it affected fighters and communities; for specialists, the book offers a fresh angle on the complex puzzle of how ethnicity figures into the movement. Micheni's candid and insightful reflections on her own fieldwork and methodology add to the book's depth and staying power. The book is a major scholarly achievement and a precious addition to the literature on armed conflict in Africa and worldwide.' Alexander Thurston, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati, USA

Author Information

Makena Micheni is a Kenyan Levin JRF Peace Studies Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, UK. She earned her PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

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