Same Same but Different? Ideological Differentiation and Intra-jihadist Competition in the Syrian Civil War

Abstract How do rebel groups survive and thrive in multiparty civil wars where numerous not only fight against a common enemy but also compete with each other for support, recruits, resources? Literature on the internal dynamics of has mostly focused violence as negative side inter-rebel competition. The aim this paper is threefold: First, it aims at explaining when armed attempt to use ideological differentiation instead rivals. Second, analyzes strategy will succeed, third, demonstrates what successful means. argument probed by analyzing puzzling case Ahrar al-Sham Syrian war that emerged both winner loser intra-jihadist competition Islamic State Iraq Syria (ISIS) Jabhat al-Nusra/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Next offering new original analysis one most important insurgent based interviews primary documents, article studies an under-researched whose relevant themselves local civilians, prospective external supporters.