The perceived legitimacy of post-war rights: the case of Kuwaiti resistance

What are the downstream effects of rebel governance on the demand for reform in post-conflict settings and their perceived legitimacy? Through an analysis of Kuwaiti civil society’s engagement in rebel governance during the Iraqi 1990–1991 occupation of Kuwait, the study shows that engaging in rebel governance in contexts of occupation increases civil society groups’ claims on their states, in which they update framing and increase their demands for greater participation after liberation. However, the perceived legitimacy of such demands is predicated by the public’s experience of rebel governance. Namely, those who experienced the alternative governance structure provided by resistance rebels demonstrate greater support of post-war activism and demand for political participation. The paper seeks to contribute to the literature on the impact of rebel governance on post-war democratization by specifically focusing on groups operating within contexts of occupation, in impacting post-war political behavior. Unlike previous studies regarding rebel governance, the organizations on which this study focuses are neither secessionist nor center-seeking. Rather, resistance rebels seek the return of the state—however, on their own terms.