Conferencing in the Tropics (of Nashville)
About the author: Katy Robinson is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University and a recipient of an FSI Conference Grant.
Earlier this month, I traveled to Nashville to attend the International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention. The conference was based in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, famous for its tropical garden atriums and indoor waterfalls. I presented a piece of my dissertation research, which analyzes the international dynamics of armed group formation.
Non-state armed groups fuel much of the world’s conflict. In the last thirty years, these terrorist, insurgent, and rebel groups have stoked civil conflict in more than 70 countries, resulting in over 1.4 million battle-related deaths. Though often weaker than their government adversaries and forced to operate in secret, many armed groups have shown a surprising ability to survive in the face of internal and external threats.
How do armed groups emerge, evolve, and endure in difficult environments? In my research, I show that foreign countries can be important players in the group formation process, facilitating the mobilization, recruitment, and resourcing of new armed groups. In so doing, state sponsors help to build trustworthy and capable militant organizations that can act as their proxies abroad.
This research is motivated by security challenges currently facing policymakers. For example, both Russia and Iran have helped to create new non-state armed groups in neighboring states and have used these proxies to gain political and military leverage. Understanding when, why, and how foreign states facilitate the formation of new proxies is important for policymakers that seek to predict and deter “gray zone” actions by opportunistic states.
Sharing this work at ISA was a great opportunity to receive feedback from other scholars. I presented my paper as part of a panel about the foundations of rebel groups. After years of Zoom conferences and online networking, it was exciting to be back in person. I enjoyed interacting with members of the audience and getting to know other presenters on the panel. It was also a treat to travel to Nashville and marvel at the Gaylord’s incredible indoor gardens.
Overall, ISA 2022 was a rewarding and memorable experience. I am very grateful to FSI for its support, and I look forward to more opportunities to present my work in the future.
