Duyvesteyn critically examines the potential explanations for the escalation and de-escalation during conflicts involving states and non-state actors, such as terrorists and insurgents.

Isabelle Duyvesteyn is Professor of International Studies/Global History at the Institute of History at Leiden University. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Netherlands Defence Academy. She sits on several editorial boards for book series and journals, and has published widely on the topics of war, peace and security in contemporary history and strategic studies.

1. Rebels and escalation; 2. Escalation and de-escalation; 3. Political opportunity and rebel violence; 4. Political will; provocation and concession; 5. Capabilities; strategy; 6. Capabilities; substitution; 7. Political will; group processes and individual considerations; 8. Legitimacy and support; 9. De-Escalation; 10. The escalation and de-escalation of rebel violence; Index.