Chapter 1 Reframing and Reassessing the VNSAs in Syrian Conflict: An Introduction

Chapter 2 Contested Geographies: How ISIS and YPG Rule “No-Go” Areas in Northern Syria

Chapter 3 Making Sense of the Territorial Aspirations of ISIS: Autonomy, Representation, and Influence

Chapter 4 How to Profile PYD/YPG as an Actor in the Syrian Civil War: Policy Implications for the Region and Beyond

Chapter 5 The Assistance Front Versus the Popular Protection Units Versus the Islamic State: Reciprocal Mobilization and the Ascendance of Violent Non-state Actors in the Syrian Civil War

Chapter 6 ISIS as an Actor Controlling Water Resources in Syria and Iraq

Chapter 7 Surrogate Warfare in Syria and the Pitfalls of Diverging US Attitudes Toward ISIS and PYD/YPG

Chapter 8 External Actors and VNSAs: An Analysis of the United States, Russia, ISIS, and PYD/YPG

Chapter 9 The EU’s Stance Toward VNSAs During the Syrian Crisis: YPG and ISIS Cases

Chapter 10 Understanding Iran’s Approach to Violent Non-state Actors: The ISIS and YPG Cases