This forum provides an outlet for an assessment of research on the delegation of war to non-state armed groups in civil wars. Given the significant growth of studies concerned with this phenomenon over the last decade, this forum critically engages with the present state of the field. First, we canvass some of the most important theoretical developments to demonstrate the heterogeneity of the debate. Second, we expand on the theme of complexity and investigate its multiple facets as a window into pushing the debate forward. Third, we draw the contours of a future research agenda by highlighting some contemporary problems, puzzles, and challenges to empirical data collection. In essence, we seek to connect two main literatures that have been talking past each other: external support in civil wars and proxy warfare. The forum bridges this gap at a critical juncture in this new and emerging scholarship by offering space for scholarly dialogue across conceptual labels.

中文翻译：

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论坛：内战中的冲突代表团

该论坛为评估在内战中向非国家武装团体授予战争的研究提供了一个途径。鉴于过去十年中与这一现象相关的研究显着增长，本论坛批判性地探讨了该领域的现状。首先，我们探讨了一些最重要的理论发展，以证明辩论的异质性。其次，我们扩展了复杂性的主题，并研究了它的多个方面，以此作为推动辩论向前发展的窗口。第三，我们通过强调一些当代问题、难题和实证数据收集的挑战来勾勒未来研究议程的轮廓。从本质上讲，我们试图将两个相互讨论的主要文献联系起来：内战中的外部支持和代理战争。