When Rebels Win: Power and Violence in Post-Conflict Societies

Since 1945, nearly a quarter of civil wars have ended in victory for rebel groups. The stories of how these groups function and fare after their succession of power, however, are complex and varied. In this episode of Talking Policy, host Lindsay Shingler sits down with political scientist Kai Thaler of UC Santa Barbara to discuss his new book, When Rebels Win: Ideology, Statebuilding, and Power After Civil Wars. Together, they explore why civil wars have replaced interstate wars as the most prevalent form of armed conflict since World War II, and what these types of struggles for power ultimately mean for their regions and the world when rebels are successful in their attempt to gain control of the state.This episode was recorded on January 29, 2026. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.