NCJ Number
63555
Date Published
1971
Length
309 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY ANALYZES THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MODERN GUERRILLA ACTIVITY AND ITS PROLIFERATION DESPITE LIMITED CHANCES OF SUCCESS. IT DRAWS UPON ACTUAL INSURRECTIONS.
Abstract
ANALYSES OF MODERN GUERRILLA ACTIVITY AND ITS CAUSES ARE CONDUCTED THROUGH INVESTIGATIONS OF TRADITIONAL WRITTEN SOURCES AND INTERVIEWS WITH REVOLUTIONARIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SUCH AS MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF REVOLUTIONARY THEORIES IS TRACED FROM EARLY TIMES THROUGH THE 20TH CENTURY'S LENIN, MAO, AND OTHERS. THE PRACTICE OF REVOLUTION IS INVESTIGATED ACCORDING TO MOTIVATION, STRATEGY, AND TACTICS USED IN PARTICULAR INSURGENCIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE IRGUN REVOLT IN THE PALESTINE MANDATE AND GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES IN MALAYA, THE PHILIPPINES, CHINA, AND ALGERIA. THREE LENGTHY CASES STUDIES EXAMINE THE GUERRILLA REVOLUTION IN DEPTH: (1) THE WARS OF LIBERATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, (2) THE PALESTINE FEDAYEEN, (3) CHE GUEVARA IN BOLIVIA. A CONCLUSION TO THE STUDY EXAMINES THE REASONS WHY GUERRILLA REVOLUTION, EASY TO INSTIGATE AND DIFFICULT TO END, SHOULD HOLD THE CENTRAL ROLE IN THE THINKING OF MANY WHO WANT POLITICAL CHANGE. FOUR REASONS DEVELOPED ARE THE BELIEF IN THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF JUSTICE, THE IDEA THAT TIME IS AN ALLY OF THE JUST, THE BELIEF THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE MASSES WILL CRUSH THE EXPLOITERS, AND THE BELIEF THAT THE LENGTH OF THE STRUGGLE WILL ALLOW TIME TO TRANSFORM THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY WITH BRIEF ANNOTATIONS AND AN INDEX COMPLETE THE TEXT. (RFC)