The Internationalisation of Civil War – How the International System Shapes Rebellion

This project explores the idea of fungibility—how easily resources can be exchanged—and its role in internationalized civil conflicts. It aims to understand why states external to the conflict offer varying levels of support, when multiple states get involved in the same conflict , and how their support affects the organization of rebellion. Situated at the crossroads of international security and conflict studies, this work ultimately seeks to uncover how civil wars spill over borders, impact the severity of conflicts, undermine civilian safety, and impede the potential for peace. To investigate these dynamics, the project employs a mixed-method approach. It starts with broad analyses to map out support networks and their influence on rebel groups. Then, it delves into detailed case studies of the Libyan and Syrian conflicts from 2011 to 2019.