I haven't read Bloodlands, but I'd note that the characteristics of the entities mentioned in this paper match those of what are often described in other work as "local militias". The claims of "local sovereignty" match this description, and the description of their actions also match:
> local groups collected taxes, printed currency and postage stamps, policed, meted out justice, and even fielded their own armies
Things like "collecting taxes, policing, met[ering] out justice, fielding own armies" are all things we see today in the chaotic edges around wars. For example, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan etc we see this exact pattern.
Printing currency and stamps is interesting. I wonder how wide spread that was.
> local groups collected taxes, printed currency and postage stamps, policed, meted out justice, and even fielded their own armies
Things like "collecting taxes, policing, met[ering] out justice, fielding own armies" are all things we see today in the chaotic edges around wars. For example, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan etc we see this exact pattern.
Printing currency and stamps is interesting. I wonder how wide spread that was.