Talking about insurrection is confusing. For example, is the Islamic State an insurgency or a terrorist group?The answer is complicated by the changes this group has undergone, however, the characterization of the insurgency will depend on how the insurgency is defined.
While the definition of insurgency is presented below, we can talk about certain groups that consider themselves insurgents, including the best known are Islamic State, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, the FARC, the Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas, ETA and the IRA.
- Although some of them have already disappeared.
- At the time of their history they were considered insurgent groups.
Finding a precise and simple definition of insurgency is a difficult task, however, it is possible to highlight some common points presented by the different definitions of insurgency.
In this way, an insurgency can be understood as the measures taken by a minority group within a state to force political change, so its objective is political.
In addition, the insurgency uses propaganda and military pressure to persuade or intimidate the population, with the aim of gaining popular support. Public recognition and acceptance will therefore be critical and will largely determine their success or failure.
Finally, the insurgency is characterized by inequality between forces, since the state in general has much more power, insurgencies opt for asymmetrical and prolonged clashes, in which psychological warfare becomes the main tool.
“Truth is as powerful as a wild animal and, like him, cannot remain in a cage. “Veronica Roth?
For an insurgency to be created, the following factors must be respected:
“As the son of the people, I could never forget that my only goal should always be his greatest prosperity. “Unknown author?
Insurgencies are generally divided into national and liberation. In countries, the insurgency opposes a government determined by ideological, ethnic, economic, etc.
In liberation, insurgents face a regime supported or controlled by foreigners.
However, there are other possible classifications, such as those based on the objectives pursued by the insurgents, this classification results in three types:
Insurgents can use five strategic instruments to achieve their objectives: armed struggle, propaganda, social assistance, social and political activism, and external relations.
Faced with this, we can infer that the insurgency resembles other violent groups that use terrorism and guerrilla warfare, it is not easy to differentiate them. However, the factors that make it possible to appear and succeed are already known.