An Examination of Counterinsurgency Warfare: “Civic Actions” as a Tool for “Winning” Support of the Population
Date
2013-08-07
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Abstract
Insurgency based conflicts have dominated global conflicts for much of the 20th century and will continue to dominate many of the security challenges faced by most nations in the 21st century. This thesis focuses on ascertaining the effectiveness of a critical aspect of counterinsurgency strategy known as “civic actions.” These programs, which are implemented across the spectrum of the conflict, (typically by counterinsurgent forces, and in rare occasions by insurgents) are normally used as a tool for gaining the population’s support. Using a case study of the Maoist insurgency waged by Sendero Luminoso in Peru from 1980 -1995, the thesis develops a qualitative analysis of these programs from information provided by key informants; individuals interviewed primarily in Ayacucho, Peru, which was the birthplace of Sendero. Findings indicate that a variety of civic action programs, which address a population’s core needs, are a crucial tool for “winning” their support.
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Latin American, Latin American
Citation
Eadon, J. K. (2013). An Examination of Counterinsurgency Warfare: “Civic Actions” as a Tool for “Winning” Support of the Population (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24874