There is a common assumption that the promotion of democracy and economic development are the most effective means of quelling widespread political unrest within a country. Many believe that free and fair elections, health care, education, and employment will help secure the hearts and minds of citizens. By contrast, the violation of human rights and international law is presumed to be counterproductive, engendering political protest and violent rebellion.
When Bad States Win challenges the belief that democratic institutions and economic growth are effectual tools in countering insurgencies. Jeffrey Treistman uses a mixed-methods approach to examine the conditions in which governments have violated human rights and attacked civilians to effectively suppress political dissent. His research suggests that moderate levels of violence against civilians tend to backfire and only provoke widespread resentments that lead to the overthrow of a central government; however, when pursued to extremes, brutal repression and indiscriminate violence against civilians can effectively defeat a rebellion. As a result, bad states may sometimes win.
As the number of democratic states in the world continues to decline, violence and authoritarian rule are on the rise. A thought-provoking and timely analysis, When Bad States Win offers important insight into how democratic states can respond to human rights violations in regions in crisis.

Jeffrey Treistman is assistant professor of national security at the University of New Haven.

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"An interesting and provocative work. Readers interested in the debate over the efficacy of population-centric COIN will find this book worth reading." Choice

“Drawing on relevant professional experience, a sound theory built on robust engagement with the literature, and careful quantitative and qualitative analysis, Treistman makes a compelling case for his argument that a repressive counterinsurgent strategy will succeed when it engages in extreme levels of repression or barbarism.” H-War

“Jeffrey Treistman has identified a counter insurgency (COIN) strategy that has not received as much scholarly attention as other approaches. His theory is intuitive, and well supported by empirical evidence. Treistman’s treatment of barbarism as a social science concept is a welcome advancement.” Michael Jensen, University of Maryland