Paper short abstract:

The paper presents a conceptualisation of militias based on historical, theoretical and concept analysis. A legitimising relationship dynamic between militias, the state, and society is unique to militias as combatant-types. A Sierra Leonean examples provides a demonstration of analytical utility.

Paper long abstract:

The development of theory and conceptualisation of militias is surprisingly sparse in comparison to the study of other types of combatants. The quest for conceptual clarity in the wider literature is hindered by the vast number of groups that are labelled "militias". The extent and range of studies of militias may be driven by a preferred nomenclature for conflicts, where the term militia is used as a residual category applied to seemingly atypical rebel groups, or any group short of a statutory military.

This paper presents a new theory of militias, which examines the relationships between militias, the state and society, and finds that the key relationship dynamic lies in terms of the legitimacy relationship between militias and society. It is this legitimising relationship which influences the militias relationship with the state. The theory is developed from an examination of the prominent role of militias in American military and political history, Clausewitz's delineation of militias' key attributes in On War and other works, and a concept analysis of similar and related combatant-types. The example of the Kamajors of the Sierra Leone civil war demonstrate the analytical utility of this new conceptualisation.