Non-State Actors and Atrocity Crimes

AbstractThis chapter examines the involvement of non-state actors (NSAs) in atrocity crimes, focusing on four exemplary cases from four different continental and national contexts, which demonstrate a broad range of atrocity crimes: the Irish Republican Army, the Islamic State, the Lord’s Resistance Army, and the Mexican drug cartel the Zetas. It argues that NSAs in various conflicts can be roughly divided into rebel groups and terrorist groups, and that virtually all have been involved in atrocity crimes, but in different forms, purposes, and contexts. The chapter conceptualizes NSAs and violence, examines the four cases, synthesizes their similarities and differences, and finally concludes, setting an agenda for future research.