Definition of Insurgency
There is at least one insurgency in a growing nation almost every year. Since the American Revolution, there have been a number of successful uprisings, according to Boot's work. (2013). A structured use of revolutionary war and violence to overthrow and seize the existing political control of a nation or an area with the aid of the armed forces is known as an insurgency. To counter the power of the government forces, mass battles are typically conducted through subversion, uprisings, coercion, and persuasion with the use of revolutionary tactics. The aim of insurgencies is to exhaust the ruling regime and win the popular support of the people and force political accommodations for the insurgents. Therefore, I agree with the meaning of insurgency and support it because insurgent movements help to reduce the powerful influence of rogue and corrupt governments using armed forces and the revolutionary doctrine.
Impact of Insurgent Groups
It is true that most insurgent groups have been listed as terrorist groups by the US government, but again, just like the definition of the term insurgency, these groups through their revolutionary war have brought several changes in their regions by challenging those misusing power. It might be confessed that some rebels have turned into terror, for instance, the Palestine Liberation Organization; we should note that mighty armies would always decry their opponents, as terrorists just like during the time of the Second World War when Wehrmacht described the European partisans (Boot, 2013). Insurgent groups such as the Mau in Kenya and the Algerian independence struggle worked for the good of the two countries respectively. Nonetheless, these revolutionary groups take care of the people by providing them real services while they fight against bad governments that use their strength and power to victimize their people while profiting from the people’s intended aid.
The Strategies of Insurgent Groups
Moreover, “invisible armies” or insurgents defend the people by wearing down the enemy through cleverness, patience, retreats, and stealth (Boot, 2013). This way, they are able to challenge and seize the political control of a region, and most of them succeed with outside support, although this might affect their legitimacy. For instance, the Vietnam and Nicaragua rebels receive outside support, and this has positively influenced their outcomes (Boot, 2013). Insurgencies thrive by marshaling material and human resources, which provide support for their operations as they fight against the government to effect change.
The Effectiveness of Insurgencies in War
Insurgencies are more effective in war compared to organized militaries, yet they are inexpensive and require minimal skills to prosecute. In fact, an insurgency is a perfect weapon for the disenfranchised and the weak to fight against their oppressors. Most insurgent groups focus on radical changes in the political control by using covert methods and instruments to achieve the goals. On the other hand, there is counterinsurgency, which uses unconcealed methods to change an existing political system. Therefore, as the United States employs the Joint Publication whereby their armies fight as a team against insurgents, the state should ensure that they understand the specific causes and motives of insurgent groups. This way, the US will adopt an appropriate course of action on whether to support or rather oppose the insurgents based on their motives, objectives, and legitimacy, since not all insurgents are terrorists.
The Roots of Insurgencies
In essence, insurgencies are radical revolutionary groups that fight with the existing social and political conditions of a region when they are dissatisfied. They always arise when a state is unable to redress the demands of essential social groups who come together with the use of a focused political rebellion, and violence to challenge, nullify, and seize the existing political control of a country or a region.
Reference
Boot, M. (2013). Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the Present. NY: Liveright Publishing.
