ROUNDTABLE: Understanding the Transformation of Rebel Groups to Parties ꟷ Insights from Political Party Scholarship

Abstract

There are an increasing number of scholars who study the transformation of rebel groups into political parties. However, most of this scholarship has been conducted by those who specialize in conflict studies and civil wars, rather than on political parties. This roundtable brings leading scholars from both research traditions together- party politics scholars, and conflict scholars who study the transformation of former militant groups. One of the major goals of this roundtable is to explore whether the work from each perspective can inform the scholarship of the other. Can existing theories of party organization derived from observations of the development of established western parties be profitably used to investigate the transformation of formerly militarized groups into political parties? And can existing party scholarship gain insights on how party organizations actually emerge? This roundtable represents an important first step in promoting greater collaboration among scholars from previously very different research traditions.