Communities respond to jihadists in diverse ways. In central Mali, key responses have been ‘submission’ – capitulating to insurgent conditions; ‘dialogue’ – negotiating with insurgents; or ‘violent resistance’ – forming self-defence brigades or militias.

To understand civilian agency, we have to look at internal factors, including local politics, existing conflicts and forms of capital within communities. Dynamics of war can also create new motivations for communities to adopt a different response.

Community responses shape the trajectory of conflicts. Civilians should thus not be peripheral, but integral to any strategy for prevention, protection or longer-term peacebuilding.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute