Managing and Understanding Insurgent Movements
The project brings together an international group of researchers specializing in insurgent movements to gain a deeper understanding of the violent manifestations of insurgencies in different parts of the world. The group of researchers examines insurgent ideologies and motivations; short, mid and long-term objectives; and their strategies and tactics for social and political order. The aims of the project are: a) To identify mechanisms and strategies for international organizations to prevent the militarization of political disputes; and b) if prevention fails, to strengthen the capacity of international organizations to mediate between governments and insurgent movements in an effort to limit the spread of violence. In addition to a number of thematic contributions discussing various types of insurgencies and past and potential responses to them, the project prepares a series of case studies assessing the successes and failures of managing contemporary insurgencies.
Case study contributors investigate each case by applying a common set of research questions, highlighting common factors and conditions that trigger, escalate, de-escalate and terminate insurgent campaigns. The study concludes with analyses of how states and the international community at large have responded to insurgencies. In summary, the study seeks to identify how insurgent campaigns spawn, develop, decline, and end against state response; explain instances where military as well as political methods have been successful or unsuccessful to control and contain insurgencies; and delineate the successes and failures of states and the international community in managing insurgencies. Following a workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal in May 2001, the project members have been working on the final version of the project?s main product in the form of an edited book. The project directors have in the meantime presented initial results at international conferences, particularly in the context of the post-9/11 debate on international terrorism.
output/publications
A summary of preliminary project results were presented at the 2002 Annual Conference of the International Studies Association. The project results have been published.
project directors
Rohan Gunaratna (Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Singapore)Albrecht Schnabel (swisspeace)
project contributors
Shaheen Akhtar (Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad); Ajay Darshan Behera (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi); Farid Bencheikh (Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale, Alger); Agon Demjaha (Balkan Children and Youth Foundation, Skopje); Tom Farrell (independent journalist, Dublin): K.P.S. Gill (Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi); John Horgan (University College Cork, Cork); D. R. Karthikeyan (Legal Advisor, New Delhi); E. Kweilen Kimmelman (St. Andrews University, St. Andrews); Angus Muir (iDefense, Inc, Reston); Lulzim Peci (Prishtina); Dennis Pluchinsky (U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC); Ajai Sahni (Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi); Anders Strindberg (Princeton University, City Island)
partner organizations and funders
United Nations University, Tokyo
Government of Japan