Concept and Conduct of Insurgency - Military Subject | Military Lessons (Internal Security)

Concept and Conduct of Insurgency - Counter Insurgency

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Types of Unrest
4. Definitions 
5. Basic Methods of Insurgency
6. Pre-requisites for Success
7. Phases of Revolutionary War

INTRODUCTION

• Disparities on unequal distribution of needs causing problems.
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• Problems arise situationally & may occur uncontrollable situations for government agencies.
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• Unlike in Conventional scenario, prime role of military is to assist the law enforcing agencies to maintain the normalcy of the particular area.
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• All the government agencies (Political, Military, Economical, Social and Philosophical aspects) to be in line for success. 

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

BACKGROUND

Spartacus the gladiator led the first insurgent movement in 71 BC. 

Unrest - A state of dissatisfaction, disturbance and agitation, typically involving public demonstrations or disorder.

TYPES OF UNREST

• Unrest based upon at least one of following provoking facts:
• Nationalism
• Communism
• Racial or tribal rivalry
• Religious differences
• Maladministration & corruption of government
• Famine & poverty
• Lack of agricultural, educational & social planning
• Eviction of foreign troops & bases

DEFINITIONS

Civil disturbance - Group acts of violence and disorder prejudicial to public law and order. 

Guerilla Warfare - Military or para-military operations conducted in enemy held or hostile territory by irregular, predominantly indigenous forces.

Insurrection (Revolt) & Rebellion - In revolt they openly express their dissatisfaction on established govt or its policies. When such an expression is armed and organized it becomes a rebellion. 

Revolutionary War - The process which the use of Political, Economical and Military measures that militants working mainly within the country, employ to weaken and overthrow the existing government.  Its military measures include Sabotage, Terrorism and Insurgency.

Limited War. International armed conflict, short of general war - It may be limited geographically, by the scale of forces or by the nature of weapons employed but will be conducted overtly by formations of regular troops. 

Sabotage - An act excluding a normal military operation or an omission calculated to cause physical damage in the interest of a foreign power or subversive organization.

Subversion - Action taken to undermine the military, economic, psychological, morale or political strength of a nation and the loyalty of the subjects.

Insurgency - Action of minority group within a state that are intent on forcing political change by means of a mixture of subversion, propaganda and military pressure, aiming to persuade or intimidate the broad mass of people to accept such a change.

Terrorism - A reset to violence by a dissident faction in order to intimidate and coerce people for political ends.

METHODS OF INSURGENCY

Methods:

• Destructive
• Constructive

DESTRUCTIVE METHOD

• Anti-government propaganda and demonstration
• Subversion and penetration of the security forces, government departments and agencies and established trade unions
• Intimidation, blackmail, terrorism and assassination
• Sabotage and destruction of the economic framework including agriculture 
• Guerrilla operations
• Full scale military operations

CONSTRUCTIVE METHOD

• Expansion of a live political organization
• Creation of movements, organisations and fronts 
• Creation of police and military forces in preparation for the take-over and control of areas
• Creation of an alternative administration parallel at all levels to the existing government administration
• The building up of insurgent training cadres

PRE-REQUISITES FOR SUCCESS 

POPULAR SUPPORT - The civilian population provide food, shelter, clothing, medical, care, informants and recruits.

STRONG LEADERSHIP - He must be:

• Brave
• Tough
• Politically astute
• Cold-blooded 
• Utterly ruthless

TERRAIN

OUTSIDE SUPPORT - Support could be:

• Training facilities
• Funds
• Communications
• Equipment
• Military supplies
• Propaganda
• Additional troops

TIME - A guerilla force could be transformed into a regular force.  

PHASES OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR

1. PREPARATORY PHASE
2. ACTIVE RESISTANCE PHASE
3. INSURGENCY PHASE
4. OPEN OFFENSIVE PHASE

PREPARATORY PHASE

• Activities by anti-government organisations.
• Political tension and manoeuvring. 
• Propaganda activities.
• Formation of cell & cadres.
• Civil and industrial unrest.
• Infiltrated into positions of authority.

ACTIVE RESISTANCE PHASE

• Civil disobedience, disturbances, riots, strikes, lawlessness.
• Sabotage, assassinations, coercion & terrorism on a limited scale. 
• Ambushes & minor insurgent activity on limited scale.
• Increased terrorism.
• Civil and industrial disobedience.

INSURGENCY PHASE

• Ops involving use of guerrilla tactics by locally formed gps.
• Locally formed gps gaining control of parts of country. 
• Insurg bases establish in safe areas & increasing acts in daylight. 
• Getting external support from neighboring countries.
• Areas dominated by guerrillas are enlarged and declared as liberated.

OPEN OFFENSIVE PHASE

• Large amount of areas dominated by guerrillas.
• Strengthen as a regular land force perhaps even sea & air forces.
• Almost using techniques of Limited War.
• Status of a Peoples’ war against Government.

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