Resisting Rebellion: The History and Politics of Counterinsurgency

by Anthony James Joes

In Resisting Rebellion , Anthony James Joes's discussion of insurgencies ranges across five continents and spans more than two centuries. Analyzing examples from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, he identifies recurrent patterns and offers useful lessons for future policymakers. Insurgencies arise from many sources of discontent, including foreign occupation, fraudulent elections, and religious persecution, but they also stem from ethnic hostilities, the aspirations of would-be elites, and traditions of political violence. Because insurgency is as much a political phenomenon as a military one, effective counterinsurgency requires a thorough understanding of the insurgents' motives and sources of support. Clear political aims must guide military action if a counterinsurgency is to be successful and establish a lasting reconciliation within a deeply fragmented society.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History, Military Fiction

Paperback

First published September 15, 2004

Reviews

[Stingray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony James Joes' well-researched handbook on counterinsurgency provides a comprehensive discussion of different aspects of insurgencies and counterinsurgencies based on extensive historical examples with the objective to provide readers with a better understanding of the conduct of such campaigns for the future.

Joes’ historical study starts off with comparisons of strategies and tactics as well ideological and religious motivations. Conceding that political, geographical, military, social and technological circumstances affect insurgencies and thus make comparisons difficult, Joes makes good use of historical examples to show basic concepts as well as differences. He also does not focus on the purely military suppression of insurgencies but discusses the mobilization of the population through good governance and antagonistic groups within society, amnesties and the central role of good intelligence operations, as insurgencies remain primarily political struggles conducted with violent means. Although he does prefer insurgencies to be fought by the nations they occur in, he also admits to the likely need of external support and employment of foreign counterinsurgent forces. Here finding the balance between sufficient force levels and unnecessary violent operations in the midst of the population is a great concern to the author. Subsequently tactics and strategies of insurgents are described and recommended as well as unsuited tactics for the counterinsurgent are discussed with regard to different national styles of operations.

While the author clearly envisions U.S. forces to be engaged in a prolonged counterinsurgency struggle in Iraq and wrote the book in part as he found the forces lacking preparation for this struggle, his work and the attention it got, likely came too late. As a long time scholar of counterinsurgencies Joes provides a well-researched and valuable treatise on the subject in the form of a military handbook to study different aspects for campaign planning as well as tactical considerations in turn. Had his recommendations been heeded during the planning of the Iraq campaign much would have worked out differently, as he advocates for less violent means but more effective administration and support of civil society to be built as a political defense against insurgency recruitment.

This handbook is as much an introductory text to the field of counterinsurgency as it is a comprehensive summary of counterinsurgency best practices in general. It is therefore very relevant to the current international situation and valuable to professionals involved in counterinsurgency as well to observers and average readers interested in the topic.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an excellent source for an overview of guerrilla tactics, counterinsurgency tactics, and everything in between. Focusing on the successes and failures of several centuries of COIN theory and practice, Joes examines what causes insurgencies and what steps must be taken to defeat them. A great deal of time is spent on what not to do, as well. All in all a very accessible and interesting book.

[Nico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a class called Modern Counter-Insurgency Theory and Practice - which my coworkers called "your insurgency class." Good primer on insurgencies, and was a helpful overview on causes and solutions (such as they are.)