Through the prism of the labour market Vera Mironova examine the development of armed groups in Syria. How do the groups relate to recruitment, retention and turnover?
Vera Mironova will examine the development of armed groups in Syria through the prism of the labour market, answering questions like:
Recruitment: How groups attract prospective fighters?
Retention: How are their personnel management policies?
Turnover: What happens when fighters leave and groups disband?
Her research is based on survey interviews with 450 active and ex-fighters, included members of Ahrar Al Sham, Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra, and ISIS local and foreign fighters.
This seminar is part of Consortium for Research on Terrorism and International Crime.
Vera Mironova is an International Security Fellow at Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School and has her PhD from the University of Maryland. She has conducted field work in active conflict zones including Yemen, Iraq, Ukraine and Palestinian territories, and in post-conflict regions in the Balkans, parts of Africa, Central Asia and the Caucasus. In 2016-17, she was embedded with the Iraqi Special Operations Forces during the Mosul Operation. Vera has published widely in The New York Times, Foreign Policy, BBC, Boston Globe, Washington Post as well as a number of academic journals.