Jasmin Lorch Books

Exploring the relationship between state weakness and civil society, this book examines how national civil societies form in contexts like Bangladesh and the Philippines. It questions the traditional view of civil society as a cornerstone of democracy, investigating its political influence and the capacity of its actors in weak states. The author challenges existing notions of development assistance, suggesting a reevaluation of strategies for supporting local civil societies, which has significant implications for international aid design and funding.

Throughout the South and Southeast Asian region, the involvement of women in jihadism has been a growing but poorly understood phenomenon. Against this backdrop, this book investigates why Bangladeshi women get involved in jihadist networks; what roles they play in them; and how the Bangladeshi government and security apparatus have reacted to female jihadism. In so doing, it also sheds light on the serious human rights violations that have occurred during Bangladeshi counterterrorism drives.