Rebel-to-political and back? Hamas as a security provider in Gaza between rebellion, politics and governance. Issue 6 (18th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berti, Benedetta; Gutiérrez, Beatriz
• Is Part Of: Democratization. Volume 23:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 1059
• Page End: 1076
• Publication Date: 2016-09-18
• Subjects: governance -- Palestine -- Gaza -- armed groups -- Hamas -- elections -- political parties -- security -- transition; Democracy -- Periodicals; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Democratization -- Periodicals; 321.8
• DOI: 10.1080/13510347.2016.1170008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0347

Abstract

ABSTRACT: After winning the 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections and subsequently taking control of the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2007, the Palestinian Hamas – a hybrid political, social and military actor – undertook a complex process to ascertain authority and control over Gaza. The article focuses on understanding Hamas's performance as a political party and a "rebel government" as well as the impact of this newly acquired role on the group's strategy. Relying on primary sources, field-work and interviews with members of the Hamas government and its security sector, the study looks at Hamas's role as a security provider and analyses the complex relationship between the institutionalized security sector and the group's insurgent armed wing. Examining Hamas's logic as a security provider and exploring the inherent tensions between political and insurgent logics allows for a better understanding of both the rebel group's role as a political actor and the broader challenges behind the successful rebel-to-political transformations of non-state armed organizations. In doing so it contributes to the emerging literature on non-state actors' shifts between ballots and bullets and on their potential role as alternative governance providers.