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From Libya to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and beyond, countless militias, parties, \u201cbrigades,\u201d \u201cforces,\u201d \u201cbattalions,\u201d and \u201cdetachments\u201d have emerged to directly challenge the formal state.\xa0\nThese groups form a new category of actor, which draws power from the state, and at the same time competes with the state or even undermines it. The authors of a new report from The Century Foundation discuss the concept of \u201chybrid actor,\u201d which allows us to make better sense of the pivotal players in conflict zones and shaky states across the Middle East, and beyond.\xa0\nParticipants include:\nRenad Mansour, research fellow, Chatham House\nDina Esfandiary, fellow, The Century Foundation\nMichael Wahid Hanna, senior fellow, The Century Foundation\nThanassis Cambanis, senior fellow, The Century Foundation