Product Description

In the current Middle East, insurgency tactics are used with frequency and increasing success. But guerrilla war-fare is not just the tool of modern-day terrorists. Its roots stretch back to our very own revolution. In "Violent Politics," William Polk takes us on a concise, brilliant tour of insurgencies throughout history, starting with the American struggle for independence, when fighters had to battle against both the British and the loyalists, those colonists who sided with the monarchy. Instinctively, in a way they probably wouldn't have described as a coherent strategy, the rebel groups employed the tactics of insurgency. From there, Polk explores the role of insurgency in several other notable conflicts, including the Spanish guerrilla war against Napoleon, the Irish struggle for independence, the Algerian War of National Independence, and Vietnam. He eventually lands at the present day, where the lessons of this history are needed more than ever as Americans engage in ongoing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq--and beyond.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #352736 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

A Disappointing Polemic
I bought this book assuming that Polk would write a balanced historical analysis of the conduct of 'violent politics' and hopefully offer some constructive insights into how states might successfully prosecute operations to defeat such threats. I was therefore disappointed to read a series of one-sided and superficial 'historical' vignettes selected to make a narrow point several times over. To save potential readers from wasting their money I'll summarise Polk's central point - counterinsurgency and nationbuilding is really hard and rarely successful so don't bother trying.

Well, everyone knows this already and that is why 'Violent Politics' adds little our understanding of this type of conflict. It is such a shame that Polk did not turn his considerable intellect and experience to considering why some counterinsurgent, counterguerrilla, counterterrorist and nationbuilding campaigns are successful. Examples include the British in Malaya, the Oman, Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone. Such an approach would have been more balanced and it may also have generated some genuine insights into the character of such conflicts and how states can achieve their objectives against such irregular threats.

The true purpose of this book becomes evident in the final chapter and it is here that 'Violent Politics' becomes an unsophisticated polemic against Western intervention in foreign countries. Yet the problems posed by insurgents, terrorists and guerrillas are not confined to Western governments engaged in the 'Long War'. To dozens of governments around the world these groups pose a significant, and sometimes existential, threat. How should the Nigerian government deal with Biafran insurgents? How should Colombia defeat the FARC? How should the Spanish Government confront ETA? A sound history of insurgency, etc, would offer insights and lessons but 'Violent Politics' is mute on these issues. However, Polk has much to say about the futility of coalition efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Polk's one-sided and selective historical analysis contributes very little to our knowledge of these problems and even less to our understanding of how to prosecute operations to defeat them. Overall 'Violent Politics' is a very disappointing book and I do not recommend it.