Awards

• Winner of Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2006
• Winner of Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2017
• Winner of Outstanding Academic Title 2017

Overview

"Since the end of the Cold War, conventional militaries and their political leaders have confronted a new, brutal type of warfare in which non-state armed groups use asymmetrical tactics to successfully fight larger, technologically superior forces. In order to prevent future bloodshed and political chaos, it is crucial to understand how these unconventional armed groups think and to adapt to their methods of combat. Richard H. Shultz Jr. and Andrea J. Dew investigate the history and politics of modern asymmetrical warfare. By focusing on four specific hotbeds of instability-Somalia, Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Iraq-Shultz and Dew conduct a careful analysis of tribal culture and the value of clan associations. They examine why these ""traditional"" or ""tribal"" warriors fight, how they recruit, where they find sanctuary, and what is behind their strategy. Traveling across two centuries and several continents, Shultz and Dew examine the doctrinal, tactical, and strategic advantages and consider the historical, cultural, and anthropological factors behind the motivation and success of the warriors of contemporary combat. In their provocative argument, Shultz and Dew propose that war in the post-Cold War era cannot be waged through traditional Western methods of combat, especially when friendly states and outside organizations like al-Qaeda serve as powerful allies to the enemy. Thoroughly researched and highly readable, Insurgents, Terrorists, and Militias examines how non-state armies fight, identifies the patterns and trends of their combat, and recommends how conventional militaries can defeat these irregular yet highly effective organizations."

Full Product Details

9780231129831

Table of Contents

Reviews

If you are interested in either irregular warfare or counterinsurgency, you should add this book to your reading list. Military Review 2/1/11 This scholarly book is grounded in warfare theory, but is easily accessible for generalist readers. Publishers Weekly 5/15/2006 Wise and cogent. -- Robert Kaplan Wall Street Journal 7/19/06 This is one in a handful of truly important books... It is fresh, innovative and immensely informative. -- Michael J. Bonafield Star Tribune 11/9/2006 [ Insurgents, Terrorists, and Militias] should be on every Pentagon reading list. -- Austin Bay Human Events Online 12/13/2006 [They] have done more than write a book on America's new enemies. The two authors have done a public service. -- Rowan Scarborough The Washington Times 12/19/2006 A succinct and well-presented history of the birth and growth of the extremist Muslim fundamentalist political movement. -- Col. Will Holahan Officer 1/1/2007 Thoroughly researched and highly readable... Examines how non-state armies fight, identifies the patterns and trends of their combat, and recommends how conventional militaries can defeat these irregular... organizations. -- LtCol Charles L. Armstrong Marine Corps Gazette 1/1/2007 Insurgents, Terrorists, and Militias is a useful introduction to the topic of traditional warriors and modern warfare. -- Walter Ladwig Military Review 3/1/2007 [This book] provides valuable insight on what must be considered to set conditions for the commitment of military forces in future conflicts. Proceedings Magazine, US Naval Institute 5/1/07 An excellent primer on the nature of warfare and our likely enemies in the twenty-first century. Parameters Summer 2007 This is undoubtedly the single best book written on what has become a true global war on terror. -- Leo J. Daugherty, III, Ph.D. Journal of Slavic Military Studies Vol. 20, No. 4 [An] excellent study. -- Depaak Lal The International History March 2008 Highly recommended for all senior policymakers, military planners, and soldiers on the ground who will have to confront traditional warriors face to face. Canadian Military Journal The book offers an excellent model Miliatary Review Jan-Feb 2011

This scholarly book is grounded in warfare theory, but is easily accessible for generalist readers. -- Publishers Weekly Wise and cogent. -- Robert Kaplan, Wall Street Journal This is one in a handful of truly important books... It is fresh, innovative and immensely informative. -- Michael J. Bonafield, Star Tribune [ Insurgents, Terrorists, and Militias] should be on every Pentagon reading list. -- Austin Bay, Human Events Online [They] have done more than write a book on America's new enemies. The two authors have done a public service. -- Rowan Scarborough, The Washington Times A succinct and well-presented history of the birth and growth of the extremist Muslim fundamentalist political movement. -- Col. Will Holahan, Officer Thoroughly researched and highly readable... Examines how non-state armies fight, identifies the patterns and trends of their combat, and recommends how conventional militaries can defeat these irregular... organizations. -- LtCol Charles L. Armstrong, Marine Corps Gazette Insurgents, Terrorists, and Militias is a useful introduction to the topic of traditional warriors and modern warfare. -- Walter Ladwig, Military Review [This book] provides valuable insight on what must be considered to set conditions for the commitment of military forces in future conflicts. -- Proceedings Magazine, US Naval Institute An excellent primer on the nature of warfare and our likely enemies in the twenty-first century. -- Parameters This is undoubtedly the single best book written on what has become a true global war on terror. -- Leo J. Daugherty, III, Ph.D., Journal of Slavic Military Studies [An] excellent study. -- Depaak Lal, The International History Highly recommended for all senior policymakers, military planners, and soldiers on the ground who will have to confront traditional warriors face to face. -- Canadian Military Journal

Author Information

Richard H. Shultz Jr. is director of the International Security Studies Program at Tufts University's Fletcher School. He is the author of many books, including The Secret War Against Hanoi: Kennedy and Johnson's Use of Spies, Saboteurs, and Covert Warriors in North Vietnam. Andrea J. Dew is codirector of the Center on Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups (CIWAG) and an associate professor of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. As the codirector of CIWAG, she is responsible for developing curriculum, case studies, and scholarly research on the threats and opportunities posed by irregular warfare and armed groups. A graduate of Southampton University, England, she earned her masters and doctorate in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Her previous research fellowships include research associate for the International Security Studies Program at the Fletcher School and a security studies fellowship at the Belfer Center on Science in International Affairs, the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

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