Political movements on occasion ally themselves with or secretly form paramilitary and even terrorist groups. Speed in information gives the insurgent the opportunity to seize the imagination of the public, for both good and evil.Įvery insurgency requires a political body to represent their views, even if they fully intend to have a cataclysmic breach of governance using force. Through propaganda, legislation, protests, or carrying out acts of terrorism, the political initiative is often in the hands of those who can challenge stability and push their agenda to the forefront of public consciousness. In the world of social media and breaking news, the dynamics of political conflict favor those who move quickest to exploit information. Insurgencies are often won by the force that can maintain initiative both politically and tactically. The very definition of insurgency tosses those considerations out the window for the rebel forces. They are constrained by decency, morality, ethics, and the civil conduct of war. On the opposite side, governments working to keep order must maintain rule of law.
REDDIT INSURGENCY MANUAL
The Field Manual also notes that insurgencies, once launched in earnest, are neither “fair” nor “play by the rules.” The unbridled ability of the insurgent to ignore laws and craft lies and propaganda to match the reality they choose gives them political advantages. The moment of ignoring an insurrectionist threat is precisely when a guerilla force led by an upstart political group will try to seize power. The tendency of democratic powers is to believe in the strength of their political processes, the resiliency of their well-crafted laws, and the goodwill of their citizenry. Often, the seeds of insurgency take hold right before their eyes.
In an effort to maintain an image of calm, national cohesiveness, and political comity, democratic governments fall to radical revolutionary communists, fascists, and illiberal warlords because they refuse to allow that a successful insurgency is ever possible. One of the reasons political upheaval often flashes out from insurrections is that the government in power fails to recognize the severity of the threat. That party usually forms a secret underground and explodes onto the national stage as the radical alternative to the main government.
REDDIT INSURGENCY TV
The popular image of an insurgency is poorly clad military irregulars vying for control of remote police checkpoints and trying to seize TV stations, but in fact almost all start with a political disagreement by a party that has been pushed out of control. Outside the walls of power and under the table, they will also encourage, fund, or control terrorists and armed militias and try to gain power in regions that the government can no longer control. Through protest, propaganda, and street action they will tear at the fabric of stability. The insurgent party, politically and paramilitarily, will always be quick to criticize and capitalize on the actions of the legitimate government. As I noted in a Washington Post Opinion piece soon after the January 6 attack, the “principal goal of an insurgent political party and their paramilitary or terrorist allies is to make existing governments seem powerless, feckless, and incapable of protecting their citizens.” Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual defines insurgency as “an organized movement aimed at the overthrow of a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict.” Insurgencies are designed to seize political power by inciting chaos and overtly or clandestinely supporting armed violence.
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