this article. Instead, the definition of security used in this article will simply conceptualize security as human security that seeks for the “prevention of violence”2. Finally with regards to what insurgency is this analysis will use the same conceptualism as the United States Department of Defense as “an organized movement aimed at the overthrow of a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict”3. Therefore, counter insurgency efforts are the “comprehensive civilian and military efforts taken to defeat an insurgency and to address any core grievances” (Ibid).
II. THE RELATIONSHIP OF COUNTERINSURGENCY WITH
SECURITIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
VVIn the face of new security threats, and intrastate conflict, one of the largest security threats faced by international militaries today is insurgency. Despite western military capability, these tactics continue to extract defeat and endless costs on modern militaries. There are few better examples of this in action, then in the contemporary conflict in Afghanistan. In this case, it is logical to connect proper security, especially with regards to Afghanistan, and the correct implementation of COIN. Simply stated, since the most dangerous threat to our military is insurgent based attacks, it is vital to understand counter insurgency so that we can fully understand operational security.
VVCounterinsurgency situations are by no means a new phenomenon. Clausewitz ‘s trinity model still applies very clearly in a counter-insurgency environment4. Ultimately, the basic nature of war is intact. Actors in conflict are out to pursue their own policy agendas. Insurgencies depend on striking at the weakest points of an apposing force in order to weaken their enemy by seemingly endless small strikes rather than a few decisive military blows (Ibid). A crucial part of the insurgency strategy is to work with local populations. As Mao Tse-Tung famously described in his work on guerrilla warfare, “the people are the sea
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8882. Tadjbakhsh & Chenoy: 2007; 9
8883. Department of Defense: 2007
8884. Buckley et al: 1995