The ethics of insurgency : a critical guide to just guerrilla warfare

As insurgencies rage, a burning question remains: how should insurgents fight technologically superior state armies? Commentators rarely ask this question because the catchphrase 'we fight by the rules, but they don't' is nearly axiomatic. But truly, are all forms of guerrilla warfare equally reprehensible? Can we think cogently about just guerrilla warfare? May guerrilla tactics such as laying improvised explosive devices (IEDs), assassinating informers, using human shields, seizing prisoners of war, conducting cyber strikes against civilians, manipulating the media, looting resources, or using nonviolence to provoke violence prove acceptable under the changing norms of contemporary warfare? The short answer is 'yes', but modern guerrilla warfare requires a great deal of qualification, explanation, and argumentation before it joins the repertoire of acceptable military behavior. Not all insurgents fight justly, but guerrilla tactics and strategies are also not always the heinous practices that state powers often portray them to be. As Insurgencies Rage, A Burning Question Remains: How Should Insurgents Fight Technologically Superior State Armies? Commentators Rarely Ask This Question Because The Catchprase We Fight By The Rules, But They Don't Is Nearly Axiomatic. But Truly, Are All Forms Of Guerrilla Warfare Equally Reprehensible? Can We Think Cogently About Just Guerrilla Warfare? May Guerrilla Tactics Such As Laying Improvised Explosive Devices (ied), Assassinating Informers, Using Human Shields, Seizing Prisoners Of War, Conducting Cyber Strikes Against Civilians, Manipulating The Media, Looting Resources, Or Using Nonviolence To Provoke Violence Prove Acceptable Under The Changing Norms Of Contemporary Warfare? The Short Answer Is Yes, But Modern Guerrilla Warfare Requires A Great Deal Of Qualification, Explanation, And Argumentation Before It Joins The Repertoire Of Acceptable Military Behavior. Not All Insurgents Fight Justly, But Guerrilla Tactics And Strategies Are Also Not Always The Heinous Practices That State Powers Often Portray Them To Be. -- From Back Cover. Just Guerrilla Warfare: Concepts And Cases -- The Right To Fight: Just Cause And Legitimate Authority In Guerrilla Warfare -- The Right To Fight: Who Fights And How? -- Large-scale Conventional Guerrilla Warfare: Improvised Explosive Devices, Rockets, And Missiles -- Small-scale Conventional Guerrilla Warfare: Targeted Killing And Taking Prisoners -- Human Shields -- Terrorism And Cyberterrorism -- Economic Warfare And The Economy Of War -- Public Diplomacy, Propaganda, And Media Warfare -- Civil Disobedience And Nonviolent Resistance -- Just War And Liberal Guerrilla Theorizing. Michael Gross, University Of Haifa. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Tables 10 Preface 12 List of Abbreviations 16 Maps 18 1 | Just Guerrilla Warfare 20 Part I | The Right to Fight 38 2 | The Right to Fight 40 3 | The Right to Fight 69 Part II | Hard War 98 4 | Large-Scale Conventional Guerrilla Warfare 100 5 | Small-Scale Conventional Guerrilla Warfare 121 6 | Human Shields 146 Part III | Soft War 170 7 | Terrorism and Cyberterrorism 172 8 | Economic Warfare and the Economy of War 203 9 | Public Diplomacy, Propaganda, and Media Warfare 232 10 | Civil Disobedience and Nonviolent Resistance 259 Part IV | Concluding Remarks 288 11 | Just War and Liberal Guerrilla Theorizing 290 References 302 Index 334 The Ethics of Insurgency explains how guerrillas who pursue national self-determination may justly utilize many unlawful practices of war as long as they target military objectives, respect the rights of noncombatants and reject terrorism.