The invasion of Iraq caused the collapse of more than one regime, setting in motion citywide and neighborhood-level changes that ruptured the stability of sectarian relations. Surprisingly, some areas of the city were able to prevent this rupture and keep sectarian militias at bay. This article is based on a year-long comparative research of neighborhoods in Baghdad wherein residents either (1) rejected sectarianism and mobilized to protect their neighbors from attacks; or (2) adopted sectarian attitudes and behaviors. In this small-n study, the trajectory of conflict escalation and coping strategies were documented in the narratives of residents and analyzed through the conceptual lens of resilience and regime shifts. The results suggest five research directions for deeper analysis of resilience to violence.