NCJ Number
63488
Date Published
1960
Length
256 pages
Annotation
THE ORIGINS AND CAUSES OF THE MAJOR ARMED INSURRECTIONS SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II ARE EXAMINED, THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE MAJOR REBEL LEADERS DESCRIBED, AND TECHNIQUES OF REBELLION AND REPRESSION CONSIDERED.
Abstract
REBELLIONS OF ALL TYPES ARE ROOTED IN THE FRUSTRATIONS OF THE REBELS IN INTERACTION WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENTS. THOSE DEEMED RESPONSIBLE FOR PERPETUATING THE CONDITIONS STIMULATING THE PAINFUL FRUSTRATION ARE CHALLENGED BY WHATEVER MEANS TO HELP THE OPPRESSED TO RELIEVE THE FRUSTRATION AND OFFER THE POSSIBLITY OF CHANGE. THE REBELLIONS EXAMINED ARE (1) THOSE AGAINST FRENCH RULE (ALGERIA AND VIETNAM), (2) COMMUNIST REBELLIONS (MALAYA AND THE PHILIPPINES), (3) THOSE AGAINST BRITISH RULE (CYPRUS, INDIA, KENYA, AND PALESTINE) (4) POST-COLONIAL REBELLIONS (CUBA, INDONESIA, AND BURMA), AND (5) REBELLION AGAINST COMMUNIST RULE (WORKERS UPRISING IN EAST BERLIN, TIBET, VIETNAMESE PEASANT REBELLION, AND HUNGARY). PATTERNS OF INSURRECTION ARE SHOWN TO FOLLOW A SEQUENCE OF THREE PHASES: TERRORISM, GUERRILLA WARFARE, AND FULL-SCALE WAR. WHETHER A REBELLION ADVANCES FROM TERRORISM, A TACTIC ADOPTED BY WEAK REBEL GROUPS WITH FEW RESOURCES, TO GUERRILLA WARFARE OR FULL-SCALE WAR DEPENDS UPON THE EXTENT OF POPULAR SUPPORT, THE RESPONSE OF OFFICIAL POWERS, AND WEAPONS SUPPORT (USUALLY OBTAINED FROM A SIGNIFICANT OUTSIDE POWER). THE GENERAL ALTERNATIVES OF OFFICIAL RESPONSE (1) MAKING POLITICAL ADJUSTMENTS TO BRING REBEL REPRESENTATIVES INTO THE SEAT OF POWER, (2) DEVELOPING AN ALTERNATIVE TO REBEL LEADERSHIP THAT CAN RALLY POPULAR SUPPORT IN A DIRECTION APPROVED BY EXISTING POLITICAL POWER, OR (3) PURE REPRESSION. WHILE EACH OF THE AFOREMENTIONED METHODS IS SHOWN TO HAVE SUCCEEDED UNDER VARYING CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY OFFICIAL RESPONSE THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE THE ALTERATION OF THOSE POLICIES AND CONDITIONS THAT HAVE CREATED THE PAINFUL FRUSTRATION PROMPTING REBELLIOUS BEHAVIOR CAN SUCCEED IN THE LONG RUN. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (RCB)