Non-State Support for Secessionist Rebel Groups: The Case of Bougainville

Secessionists need external allies. Scholars have long pointed to the importance of foreign support for secessionist movements, whether they are rebel groups or de facto states. Most of the time, such perspectives were almost entirely focused on powerful states, often called ‘patrons.’ In recent years, research on the involvement of diaspora organizations has enhanced our understanding of internationalized intra-state conflicts. My paper adds another piece to this puzzle: international networks of non-state actors. Whether they are called solidarity movements, pressure groups, or advocacy coalitions, their operations can be observed in most major conflicts about identity, territory, and sovereignty, from Western Sahara to Kurdistan or West Papua. They tend to unequivocally side with the secessionist conflict party and are often at the forefront of debates about international responsibility and intervention. Yet, despite their ubiquity, we know very little about how such actors interact with their secessionist counterparts and which impact such involvement can have on secession conflicts. I will empirically investigate the phenomenon on the example of the Bougainville conflict, shedding light on the relationship between the secessionist rebel group Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and their support network in Australia and Europe. Between 1989 and 1998, the BRA fought for Bougainville’s secession from Papua New Guinea, eventually attaining a peace agreement that paved the way to an internationally observed status referendum that took place in 2019. My theoretical framework incorporates elements from three research programs: Rebel Diplomacy, Transnational Advocacy Networks, and Patron Client Relations. The paper is based on original data, including archival documents and interviews with BRA members conducted during a field trip to Bougainville in the Summer of 2022. My findings suggest that non-state support networks can play a crucial role for secessionist rebel groups that lack the backing of powerful state patronage. While not able to single-handedly tip the power balance in favor of their secessionist allies, networks of non-state actors can help them overcome domestic obstruction and provide opportunities to voice grievances at the international level. Over time, such support can lead to substantial international intervention, significantly benefiting secessionist rebels.