Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the Nineteenth Century: A Global History

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the Nineteenth Century explores insurgency and counterinsurgency in the nineteenth century, including chapters from distinguished and rising historians from Europe, North and South America, and case studies such as the Katanga and White Lotus rebellions. It emphasizes the commonalities of responses between guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency, such as commanding local intelligence networks, public opinion, millenarianism, magic and religion, technology, 'hearts and minds,' the legal framework of state violence, racial stereotypes, and patterns of forgetting and remembering guerrilla conflicts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 364 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the Nineteenth Century delves into the complexities of insurgency and counterinsurgency across the world during the nineteenth century. This comprehensive volume features chapters written by esteemed and emerging historians from various regions, including Europe, North and South America. It encompasses irregular wars in Spain, Ireland, France, Latin America, China, the United States, Africa, Central Asia, and Burma. The authors explore the intricate connections between insurgencies and nationalism, examining factors such as learning curves and emulation in counterinsurgency. With a particular focus on non-Western warfare, the book includes case studies of lesser-known rebellions, such as the Katanga and White Lotus movements, which offer valuable insights to Western readers.

The military history of the nineteenth century extends beyond the traditional narratives of symmetrical warfare attributed to figures like Napoleon, Grant, and Moltke. This volume highlights the shared responses to insurgencies, emphasizing the commonalities rather than the differences. It employs recurring themes that emerge across different times and places, including challenges in commanding local intelligence networks, public opinion, millenarianism, magic, religion, technology, "hearts and minds," the legal framework of state violence, racial stereotypes, and patterns of forgetting and remembering guerrilla conflicts.

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the Nineteenth Century stands as a groundbreaking study, as it is the first recent work to examine Western and non-Western warfare on an equal footing. It emphasizes the prevalence of commonalities between guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency across the globe. This book will appeal to scholars and researchers in the fields of military and strategic studies, as well as modern military history. Originally published as a special issue of Small Wars & Insurgencies, it contributes to our understanding of the complex dynamics of conflict and resistance in the nineteenth century.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367610500