A unified general framework of insurgency using a living systems approach
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Authors
Kendall, Shanece L.
Subjects
Advisors
Bradley, Gordon H.
Date of Issue
2008-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis develops a unified general framework of insurgency. The framework is "unifying" in that it includes all the physical and social science formulations of insurgencies and both contemporary and historical insurgencies. It is "general" in that it describes all insurgencies rather than a specific one. This thesis first redefines the definition of insurgency in the context of the twenty-first century and addresses the military, political, social, and economic elements. Next, it adopts the view that an insurgency is a living system. This idea is based on the characteristic that every insurgency consists of a group of people embedded in a larger society. Using this concept, this thesis argues that James Grier Miller's Living Systems Theory, from his book Living Systems, is the most fitting theory to study insurgency. To demonstrate the framework's effectiveness, it is applied to the Iraq Sunni Insurgency. The framework is used to describe the structure of the insurgency system using three levels--insurgency, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Unit, and IED Cell--and the twenty critical subsystems that process information and matter-energy in the insurgency's IED Cell. This framework should help clarify, focus, and support the current debates about policy, operations, and tactics for insurgencies.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Applied Science
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xvi, 90 p. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined
in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the
public domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States
Code, Section 105, is not copyrighted in the U.S.