"The authors deftly take on two of the primary concerns facing the African security landscape—violent extremist organizations and great power competition—and put them into an innovative, and fruitful, conversation." —Jason Warner, American University

"Pieri and Fridy masterfully demonstrate that strategic competition and violent extremism are not separate challenges, and that Western governments discount local, informal institutions of governance at their own peril. The mixed methods research design and policy-relevant insights ensure that this book will appeal to both scholars and policymakers." —David Ellis, New College of Florida

What happens when external forces are brought to bear on domestic grievances and governance institutions? In environments profoundly affected by both violent extremist organizations and powerful international actors, what attributes characterize local governments that can maintain peace and stability? Addressing these questions, Zacharias Pieri and Kevin Fridy demonstrate the surprising linkages between global strategic competition and local counterinsurgency in West Africa and show how resilient local governance structures have effectively managed the consequent challenges.

CONTENTS: Grievances, Governance, and External Shocks in West Africa.Precolonial Caliphates and Empires: Leveraging History.The Colonial Roots of Violence and Strategic Competition.Mobilizing Violence: Jihadist Strategies.Local Resilience in the Face of Violence.Enter Great Power Competition.International Actors, Local Dynamics.The Convergence of Violent Extremism and Great Power Competition.