Between the Hammer and the Anvil: Limits on Territoriality of Daesh Affiliates

摘要

The article covers the topic of limitations to the territoriality of Daesh affiliates. As attempt to establish territorial Caliphate, these units should demonstrate high levels of territoriality but empirically speaking this is not the case. The article presents the territorial spread of the groups and maps possible limitations that would explain this paradox. It concludes that unlike other territorial violent non-state actors, Daesh affiliates are incapable of utilising liquidity thus are stuck in an environment that presents them with opposition from all sides. It is thus improbable that the Daesh affiliates will ever show important territorial spread.