This volume in the Praeger Security International (PSI) series Classics of the Counterinsurgency Era defines the laws of insurgency and outlines the strategy and tactics to combat such threats. Drawn from the observations of a French officer, David Galula, who witnessed guerrilla warfare on three continents, the book remains relevant today as American policymakers, military analysts, and members of the public look to the counterinsurgency era of the 1960s for lessons to apply to the current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. With a new foreword by John A. Nagl, author of Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam</i> (Praeger, 2002).
Counterinsurgency Warfare
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"This is a soldier's book, written by a professional with a classical military education....Ýi t has become required reading for students of warfare generally, and especially for soldiers and policymakers dealing with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq."-ARMY
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.
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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
David Galula's Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice is as relevant today as it was when it was originally published decades ago. This is the book that every general should read. To put it more succinctly, if you are a general serving in the American armed forces today and have not read this book, then you are wrong. Galula's careful study of past revolutionary warfare is prophetic of today's conflicts across the globe especially the War in Iraq.
As part of a recent series of republished books on the subject of insurgencies, Galula's provides the important foundation from which to branch into more specific areas of conflict. I wish we had book at West Point when I was a cadet, and I recommend it to the Department of History and the Department of Military Science without reservation.
Drawing upon decades of experience participating in counter-revolutionary warfare and studying it across the globe, Galula's analysis is tempered with a strong dose of reality. I had difficulty sometimes thinking he was writing about today's wars when talking so eloquently about previous insurgencies that parallel today's realities. Galula's references are outstanding, his analysis is thorough, and his conclusions valid.
As part of a recent series of republished books on the subject of insurgencies, Galula's provides the important foundation from which to branch into more specific areas of conflict. I wish we had book at West Point when I was a cadet, and I recommend it to the Department of History and the Department of Military Science without reservation.
Drawing upon decades of experience participating in counter-revolutionary warfare and studying it across the globe, Galula's analysis is tempered with a strong dose of reality. I had difficulty sometimes thinking he was writing about today's wars when talking so eloquently about previous insurgencies that parallel today's realities. Galula's references are outstanding, his analysis is thorough, and his conclusions valid.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Heart of the New Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Manual
February 24, 2007
By John Nagl
Format:Paperback
David Galula's account of the lessons he learned fighting in Algeria is the single best book on counterinsurgency. It heavily influenced the writing of Army/Marine Corps Field Manual 3-24, Counterinsurgency; especially important were Galula's lessons about the primacy of political over military elements of power in a COIN campaign and the incredible importance of information operations. "Counteirnsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice" should be heavily highlighted and reside on the bookshelf of every counterinsurgent.
39 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having lived through the 60s and Viet Nam, I can recognize much of what is in the news today - just change the names. The type of war we now face has had many names: revolutionary war, counterinsurgency, counter terrorism, guerrilla warfare, asymmetric warfare, and so on. One size does not fit all, and it would be a fool who believes that there is a one-for-one match between conflicts. It would also be a fool who ignores the practical, political, and theoretical basis for such conflicts and the extent to which they share characteristics.
This book addresses more the military end. This is not in any way a criticism. This book is very well written and well worth the reading. At the time it was written, armies were attempting to build a doctrinal base to use in such conflicts. In doing so, they also concentrated on the military. Again, this is not in any way a criticism, for doing so is their job. The political aspects of such conflicts are, properly, the job of the civilian leadership.
The Iraq conflict, and the war in Afghanistan, have brought the subject again to the world's attention. My personal opinion is that many are now busy re-inventing the wheel.
For anyone interested in the subject, many books are available. The best of the recent publications is General Sir Rupert Smith's The Utility of Force. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Carl von Clausewitz edited and translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret. On War. is a given, as is Sun Tzu, and Mao Tse-Tung's, Selected Military Writings. Peking, PRC: Foreign Language Press, 1966. Smith gives the best account of the need for combining all factors in a situation such as we find ourselves in now. Wesley Clark also does a good job of describing the complicated nature of modern conflicts.
Other books are listed below, in no particular order. The (H) and (P) indicate if the book is hardcover or paperback.
Thompson, Sir Robert. Defeating Communist Insurgency, The Lessons of Malaya and Vietnam. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Pbulishers, 1966. (H)
Hart, B. H. Liddell. Strategy. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1954. (P)
McCuen, John J.. The Art of Counter-Revolutionary War. Harrisburg, PA: The Stackpole Company, 1966. (H)
Paret, Peter and John W. Shy. Guerrillas in the 1960's, Revised Edition. New York: Frederick A. Praaeger, Publisher, 1962. (P)
Paret, Peter. French Revolutionary Warfare from Indochina to Algeria, The Analysis of a Political and Military Doctrine. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers, 1964. (H)
Guevara, Ernesto "Che." Che Guevara on Guerrilla Warfare. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publisher, 1961. (H)
Bern, Major H. von Dach. Total Resistance, Swiss Army Guide to Guerrilla Warfare and Underground Operations. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 1965. (H)
Guevara, Ernesto "Che". Guerrilla Warfare, A Method. Peking, PRC: Foreign Language Press, 1964. (P)
Clark, General Wesley K.. Waging Modern War, New York: Public Affairs Books, 2002. (P)(Original Source)
Clark, General Wesley K.. Winning Modern Wars, Iraq, Terrorism, and the American Empire. New York: Public Affairs Books, 2003. (P)(Original Source)
This book addresses more the military end. This is not in any way a criticism. This book is very well written and well worth the reading. At the time it was written, armies were attempting to build a doctrinal base to use in such conflicts. In doing so, they also concentrated on the military. Again, this is not in any way a criticism, for doing so is their job. The political aspects of such conflicts are, properly, the job of the civilian leadership.
The Iraq conflict, and the war in Afghanistan, have brought the subject again to the world's attention. My personal opinion is that many are now busy re-inventing the wheel.
For anyone interested in the subject, many books are available. The best of the recent publications is General Sir Rupert Smith's The Utility of Force. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Carl von Clausewitz edited and translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret. On War. is a given, as is Sun Tzu, and Mao Tse-Tung's, Selected Military Writings. Peking, PRC: Foreign Language Press, 1966. Smith gives the best account of the need for combining all factors in a situation such as we find ourselves in now. Wesley Clark also does a good job of describing the complicated nature of modern conflicts.
Other books are listed below, in no particular order. The (H) and (P) indicate if the book is hardcover or paperback.
Thompson, Sir Robert. Defeating Communist Insurgency, The Lessons of Malaya and Vietnam. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Pbulishers, 1966. (H)
Hart, B. H. Liddell. Strategy. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1954. (P)
McCuen, John J.. The Art of Counter-Revolutionary War. Harrisburg, PA: The Stackpole Company, 1966. (H)
Paret, Peter and John W. Shy. Guerrillas in the 1960's, Revised Edition. New York: Frederick A. Praaeger, Publisher, 1962. (P)
Paret, Peter. French Revolutionary Warfare from Indochina to Algeria, The Analysis of a Political and Military Doctrine. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers, 1964. (H)
Guevara, Ernesto "Che." Che Guevara on Guerrilla Warfare. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publisher, 1961. (H)
Bern, Major H. von Dach. Total Resistance, Swiss Army Guide to Guerrilla Warfare and Underground Operations. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 1965. (H)
Guevara, Ernesto "Che". Guerrilla Warfare, A Method. Peking, PRC: Foreign Language Press, 1964. (P)
Clark, General Wesley K.. Waging Modern War, New York: Public Affairs Books, 2002. (P)(Original Source)
Clark, General Wesley K.. Winning Modern Wars, Iraq, Terrorism, and the American Empire. New York: Public Affairs Books, 2003. (P)(Original Source)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Iraq war
this is the book you want to get a good understanding of the Iraq War and why it didn't go well. It is management. Alway was, always will be. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jeffery Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Galula about counterinsurgency
Counterinsurgency has been there and applied throughout history. One instance is colonial pacification. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Togo Ata
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential reading for modern soldiers
In "Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice", David Galula draws upon his professional experience (largely his time as a Company Commander and Battalion S3/XO in Algeria, as... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Peter Monks
4.0 out of 5 stars
Counterinsurgency for today
Excellent book that expertly defines what counterinsurgency warfare is. Any present day military officer wil be well-served reading this book.
Published on October 12, 2010 by OCS Delta Co.
5.0 out of 5 stars
COIN Warfare Bible
The first and best book written about the fundamentals of Counterinsurgency Warfare. helps one to understand the strategies that should be employed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Published on September 21, 2009 by Steven M. Powell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound, practical and hard-earned advice
"The best writing on counterinsurgency share with the best sex manuals the fact that their authors generally have some personal experience of their subject matter. Read more
Published on September 4, 2009 by T. Graczewski
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Core Document of the Counter-Insurgency Canon
Read this. It's only a hundred pages. When you're done you should understand why winning small wars is important and "bomb them back to the stone age" doesn't work. Read more
Published on June 10, 2009 by C. M. Carroll
4.0 out of 5 stars
Added insight
The book provides a good overview of COIN theory, added insight to a complex and debated topic
Published on May 31, 2009 by Stĺle Ljřterud
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Gaza Today
If Israel would employ this strategy in dealing with Hamas, Hizbollah and Fatah, I am convinced they would be able to achieve a lasting peace with the Palestinians. Read more
Published on January 3, 2009 by cliffhammond
5.0 out of 5 stars
Galula
There is absolutely no doubt that Galula is THE expert on COIN. If you are a student of COIN you will find that virtually every other author cites this work. Read more
Published on December 6, 2008 by ROBERT YATES
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