Rise of Violent Non-State Actors in Global Conflicts

Can a drug cartel or private army be more powerful than a state? In this video, we examine the rise of Violent Non-State Actors (VNSAs)—armed groups that challenge the global order from the shadows. From ISIS building a caliphate, to Mexican cartels corrupting state institutions, to the Wagner Group fighting proxy wars, these actors don't just threaten national security—they strike at the very foundation of the international system: state sovereignty.
We explore the four main types of VNSAs (insurgents, criminal organizations, terrorist groups, and hybrids) and examine why they emerge, how they fight, and what makes them so difficult to stop. You'll learn how failed states, greed and grievance, and globalization fuel their rise, and how their use of propaganda, asymmetric warfare, and cross-border sanctuaries turn them into global threats. These groups aren’t just players in violent conflict. They are redefining warfare, sovereignty, and global insecurity. If you want to understand the future of conflict, start here.