New Books Network Huseyn Aliyev, "Who Fights for Governments? Paramilitary Mobilization in Ukraine and Beyond" (Bloomsbury Academic, 2025)
Sep 13, 2025
Huseyn Aliyev, a Lecturer at the University of Glasgow specializing in political violence in the former Soviet Union, dives into the world of paramilitary mobilization in Ukraine. He discusses how and why individuals join pro-government militias during conflicts. The podcast reveals insights from his ethnographic research, including interviews with militia members and the impact of external forces. Additionally, Aliyev highlights the role of crowdfunding in supporting military efforts and the evolving dynamics of Ukraine's security framework amidst ongoing conflict.
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Use Obituaries As Quantitative Evidence
- Combine qualitative interviews with public quantitative records to study paramilitary mobilization.
- Use obituaries and local media links to validate individual backgrounds and casualty patterns.
Mixed Methods Revealed Micro and Macro Patterns
- Aliyev combined qualitative interviews and a 1,000-entry obituary database for his analysis.
- Mixed methods revealed both personal motives and aggregate casualty patterns among paramilitaries.
Fieldwork From Front Lines To Hometowns
- Aliyev conducted over 150 in-depth interviews across Ukraine, including front-line sites and hubs like Dnipro.
- Early fieldwork in 2015 focused near front lines, then expanded nationwide as fighters demobilized.
