The Counterinsurgency Dilemma Foreign Fighter Influence on Insurgencies in Afghanistan and Somalia

"Tricia L. Bacon's deeply researched book traces the long-term impact that foreign fighters have had on insurgencies, delving into the most important factors behind what motivates these militants as well as how they shape the nature of the conflicts they are fighting in. It is essential reading for scholars, practitioners, and analysts of terrorism, insurgency, and irregular warfare." -Colin P. Clarke, author of After the Caliphate: The Islamic State & the Future Terrorist Diaspora

"Foreign fighters aggravate international conflicts, but through what mechanisms? Tricia L. Bacon sheds new light on this question by highlighting foreign fighter-local insurgent relations as a critical, and underexplored, variable. Meticulously researched and cogently argued,The Counterinsurgency Dilemmais a major contribution to our understanding of contemporary conflict dynamics."-Assaf Moghadam, author of Nexus of Global Jihad: Understanding Cooperation Among Terrorist Actors

"The Counterinsurgency Dilemma is an important contribution to understanding the dynamics and relationships between foreign fighters and their local insurgent hosts. Tricia Bacon's meticulous research, extensive field work, and incisive analysis casts new light on this critical dimension of contemporary conflict and will be of great interest for scholars, students, and counterinsurgency practitioners and policymakers alike."-Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside Terrorism

"The Counterinsurgency Dilemma offers a valuable resource for analysts, whether in academia or government. Bacon provides a very sophisticated and nuanced approach to assessing relations between insurgent groups and foreign fighters. The model is well explicated, making it very useful for further study and research. The Counterinsurgency Dilemma is highly recommended." -Lawrence E. Cline, Small Wars & Insurgencies