Strategic Studies Institute
United States Army War College

Rethinking Insurgency

Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.

Brief Synopsis

The U.S. military and national security community lost interest in insurgency after the end of the Cold War when other defense issues such as multinational peacekeeping and transformation seemed more pressing. With the onset of the Global War on Terror in 2001 and the ensuing involvement of the U.S. military in counterinsurgency support in Iraq and Afghanistan, insurgency experienced renewed concern in both the defense and intelligence communities. The author argues that while exceptionally important, this relearning process focused on Cold War era nationalistic insurgencies rather than the complex conflicts which characterized the post-Cold War security environment. To be successful at counterinsurgency, he contends, the U.S. military and defense community must rethink insurgency, which has profound implications for American strategy and military doctrine.

Survey: Rethinking Insurgency

1. How would you rate the writing and overall quality?

ExcellentGoodAverageBelow AveragePoor

2. Is the content relevant for influencing present and future debates?

YesNoNo Opinion

Your Comments (No URLs Allowed):

If you'd like a reply to your comments provide your email:
(optional)

You may also be interested in the following titles:

Schools for Strategy: Teaching Strategy for 21st Century Conflict
War's Second Grammar
A "New" Dynamic in the Western Hemisphere Security Environment: The Mexican Zetas and Other Private Armies
A Comprehensive Approach to Improving U.S. Security Force Assistance Efforts

Also by the Author/Editor:

COIN of the Realm: U.S. Counterinsurgency Strategy
Learning from Iraq: Counterinsurgency in American Strategy
Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the 21st Century: Reconceputalizing Threat and Response
Security Transformation
Future War/Future Battlespace: The Strategic Role of American Landpower
Revising the Two MTW Force Shaping Paradigm
The American Army in the Balkans: Strategic Alternatives and Implications
Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy: Definition, Background, and Strategic Concepts

View other pubs in the following categories:

Era of Persistent Conflict
Military Strategy and Policy
National Military Strategy
National Security Strategy