DA3802 Seminar in Guerrilla Warfare

Have you ever wanted to seize state power from below? Have you ever been responsible for keeping others from doing so? This reading seminar is designed to examine the strategy and operational art of substate conflict. It examines the problems of social mobilization; underground organization, command and control, and security; alternate strategies of internal war, and competing theories of counterinsurgency. These and related issues are examined analytically and historically. Comparative cases are discussed and evaluated. Throughout the course, attention is also given to the manner in which such wars are conducted in the future. Prerequisite: None.

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

0

Statement Of Course Objectives

 

Course Learning Outcomes

• Develop an analytical framework for understanding the origins and dynamics of organized sub-state conflict. This will be accomplished initially through a critical examination of some of the more important prevailing theories of armed revolt.  These and related perspectives will be distilled into a general theory of insurgency that accounts for the structural and strategic dimensions of the struggle between armed groups and incumbent regimes. 
• Examine what such struggles mean in operational terms, for governments and guerrillas.  Here we will be interested in examining how armed, intra-state struggles are actually carried out: how they begin, how they evolve, how they end, and why they succeed and fail.  Close attention will be given to the interactive nature of insurgent and counterinsurgent campaigns.  As part of this examination we will also briefly trace the evolution of American counterinsurgency thought since the end of World War II. 
• Examine a series of case studies (presented as student team projects) on the ‘geography’ of insurgency. Throughout the course we will make frequent references to ongoing and historical examples of sub-state conflict.