Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice (Paperback)

~ David Galula (Author), David Galula (Author)
Key Phrases: counterinsurgent personnel, counterinsurgent forces, successful insurgency, Propaganda Directed, South Vietnam, Chinese Communists (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

The best "how-to" guide to counterinsurgency warfare. -- Bernard Fall, Author of Street Without Joy, 1967

The best “how-to” guide to counterinsurgency warfare. --Bernard Fall, Author of Street Without Joy, 1967

Book Description

This book examines the strategy and means to defeat insurgenct or guerrilla movements based on the author's first-hand experience in China, Greece, Indochina, and Algeria.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 143 pages
• Publisher: Hailer Publishing (March 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0976738007
• ISBN-13: 978-0976738008
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,618,148 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, insightful and relevant today., September 25, 2005

By	Skope (USA) - See all my reviews

This is a foundational work on the development of "Counterinsurgency Warfare," and relevant to Iraq, Afghanistan and other hotspots. Galula articulated clearly the how "Revolutionary Warfare" is asymmetric between belligerents, contrary to the balanced warfare between conventional field armies. He is masterful at describing the insurgent dynamics, and gives great insights for conducting Counterinsurgency Operations. The work primarily focuses on anti-colonial revolutions and Marxist-communist insurgencies, but falls short in addressing the fundamentalist religious based insurgency/terrorism, which was very much ongoing (Algeria) during his contemporary times. Very clear and illuminating, and a must for the student of low-intensity conflicts.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on the Subject...Ever, November 28, 2005

By	Sam Damon (Ft Walton Beach, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice (Science 101 (Collins)) (Paperback)

David Galula's 1964 classic is timeless. He offers a soldier's perspective on counterinsurgency, at the operational level of war. This is the only book I have found that ties together the all the strategy and policy works that proliferate from academics and politicians with the tactical manuals that show soldiers how to deal with the very difficult and confusing environment of counterinsurgency. If current serving soldiers only have one book in their rucksacks, this should be that book. It is better than any doctrinal manual or think piece currently available. Find the paperback version from Hailer Press if you can...that way you don't mind it getting dog-eared from constant use, stained from coffee spilled on it late at night, and lost when someone else sees good a resource you have brought to the fight.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 40 Years Old and Still the Best, February 14, 2006

By	jehsale "jehsale" (St. Pete, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice (Science 101 (Collins)) (Paperback)

First published in 1964, this is still the best book on the subject. Not as well known as it's more famous companion: "Defeating Communist Insurgency" by Thompson, it addresses the same isues, but is much more applicable to today's conflict. If you are too busy to read it, then go right to page 51, and see how Galula learned to deal with prisoners from his time spent as a prisoner of Mao's forces in China. If some one at the Pentagon had read this, the world would never have heard of Abu Garaib. In a page and a half, Galula told us how to win the war, or, at least not to lose it. Not as "harshly to the point" as McCuen's "The Art of Counter-Revolutionary War", it is the right book at the right time. Agree with previous reviewer, try to get your hands on the Hailer Publishing softcover version as it fits right in the cargo pocket.