NCJ Number
45658
Date Published
1976
Length
287 pages
Annotation
EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH REVOLUTIONARIES AND SECURITY OFFICIALS ARE USED TO RECONSTRUCT THE STRATEGY BEHIND SEVEN REVOLTS AGAINST THE BRITISH EMPIRE FROM 1944 THROUGH THE REVOLTS IN IRELAND TODAY.
Abstract
THIS SERIES OF CASE STUDIES BEGINS WITH THE WAR FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND INTRODUCES THE 'STRATEGY OF LEVERAGE' TO EXPLAIN HOW THE IRGUN TERRORISTS DIFFERED FROM THE HAGANAH (JEWISH MILITIA-ARMY). BECAUSE OF THIS VIOLENT, UNCOMPROMISING PRESSURE, THE IRGUN NOT ONLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENCE BUT LARGELY DETERMINED WHICH OPTIONS THE BRITISH AND THE UNITED NATIONS COULD ACCEPT REGARDING THE PALESTINIAN MANDATE. THE USE OF NONVIOLENCE IN THE GOLD COAST IS CONTRASTED WITH THE COMMUNIST REVOLT'S GUERRILLA TACTICS IN MALAYA. THE JAILING OF THE BLACK LEADER NKRUMAH IN THE GOLD COAST, WHICH MADE HIM A MARTYR AND CONSOLIDATED THE DEMANDS FOR INDEPENDENCE, IS CONTRASTED WITH THE BRITISH HANDLING OF THE COMMUNISTS BY UNITING THOSE ELEMENTS WHICH WERE OPPOSED TO THE CHINESE-CONTROLLED MOVEMENT WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD SELF-GOVERNMENT AND REDRESS OF THE GRIEVANCES OF THE MALAYAN PEOPLE. THE MAU MAU SITUATION IN KENYA IS EXAMINED AS A FUNCTION OF THE BLINDNESS OF BRITISH SETTLERS TO THE GRIEVANCES OF THE NATIVE TRIBES AND THE SETTLERS' REFUSAL TO ADMIT THAT 'IGNORANT SAVAGES' WERE CAPABLE OF WELL-ORGANIZED GUERRILLA WARFARE. THE BITTERNESS AND VIOLENCE OF THE MAU MAU ATTACKS WERE ATTRIBUTED BY OBSERVERS TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS WHICH HAD ACCUMULATED OVER THE YEARS WITH NO SOLUTION THROUGH CONVENTIONAL CHANNELS. HOWEVER, THE MAU MAU FORCES NEVER ORGANIZED THEMSELVES INTO AN ARMY AND WHEN THE GROUND WAS LAID FOR INDEPENDENCE 10 YEARS LATER ALL THAT REMAINED OF THE REBELS WERE A FEW BANDS IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE LACK OF VIABLE STRATEGY IS ALSO CALLED THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE OF THE PALESTINIAN FEDAYEEN TO CONTROL THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT. INSTEAD, THEIR TACTICAL DISPLAY AGAINST AN ALREADY DECAYED POWER STRUCTURE SIMPLY AIDED NEW ACTORS WHO BENEFITED FROM THE FEDAYEEN ACTIVITIES. THE CONTAINMENT OF THE EOKA (NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CYRIOT FIGHTERS) IN CYPRUS AND THE NLF (NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT) IN SOUTH ARABIA ARE EXAMINED AS EXAMPLES OF CLASSIC REVOLUTIONARY CONFRONTATIONS WHILE THE IRA (IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY) REVOLT IN IRELAND IS SEEN AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL BRITISH COLONIAL RESPONSE TO A SITUATION. THE DEDICATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY, HIS RELIANCE ON VIOLENCE TO MAKE HIMSELF HEARD, AND HIS TACTICS TO GAIN SUPPORT AMONG THE POPULATION ARE EXAMINED. ARMED STRUGGLE IS CALLED THE LAST CHOICE OF A SLOWLY UNWINDING POLITICAL PROCESS. FAILURED REVOLTS, USUALLY OCCUR WHEN REBELS OVERESTIMATE THEIR ASSETS, MISS THE SURE TIDE OF EVENTS, OR START WHAT THEY CANNOT FINISH. NATIONAL REVOLTS SUCCEED WHEN THE DEDICATION AND STRATEGY OF THE LEADERS MOBILIZE THE MASSES AND ENABLE THE REVOLUTION TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH TO THE DESIRED END. (GLR)