Noncombatant rebels: coercion, social mobility, and turbulent cooperation

Abstract Why do noncombatants trapped inside militant organizations both actively participate in and resist insurgent activities? This article explains such turbulent cooperation with frequent shifts in behavior among the often-overlooked category of noncombatant rebels—those who provide the manpower of spying, cooking, and portering in war. Drawing on in-depth interviews with former Boko Haram members and extensive fieldwork in Nigeria, this study argues that turbulent cooperation emerges as a specific manifestation of incomplete socialization within militarized hierarchies. The analysis reveals how organizational realities create competing pressures that disrupt adaptation processes and prevent linear progression toward norm internalization. Specifically, individuals alternate between embracing and resisting militarism as they navigate social mobility opportunities and threats within a spectrum ranging from enslaved to elite positions. While advancement offers protection and resources, it simultaneously introduces new vulnerabilities through escalating demands for violent participation. The findings move beyond conventional assumptions that link recruitment tactics to subsequent participation patterns, demonstrating how socialization processes unfold among noncombatants whose seemingly inconsistent behavior reflects their struggle to survive within a militarized power structure that requires them to continuously adjust to new roles, responsibilities, and rights. This analysis thus provides insights into rebel organization, socialization processes among noncombatants, and strategies of survival in a context that is representative of increasing Islamic extremist contestation in Africa, while offering implications for counterterrorism interventions and post-conflict rehabilitation and reintegration programs.