| ID | 091487 |
| Title Proper | Anatomy of a surrogate |
| Other Title Information | historical precedents and implications for contemporary counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Hughes, Geraint ; Tripodi, Christian |
| Publication | 2009. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article examines the ways and means in which states employ irregular and indigenous personnel in a counter-insurgency (COIN) or counter-terrorist (CT) campaign, in the historical and contemporary context. The authors clarify the terminology surrounding this neglected area of COIN/CT theory, and identify four types of indigenous assistance - individual actors (trackers, interpreters, informers and agents); home guards and militias; counter-gangs; and pseudo-gangs. This article concludes that while the use of such indigenous irregulars has its advantages for the state and its armed/security forces (particularly as far as intelligence, local knowledge and undermining the insurgent's cause is concerned), it can also have serious practical and ethical implications for a COIN/CT campaign, and can have unexpected and unwelcome consequences including violations of laws of armed conflict, the undermining of governmental authority and the prospects of endemic internal strife and state collapse. |
| `In' analytical Note | Small Wars and Insurgencies Vol. 20, No. 1; Mar 2009: p.1 - 35 |
| Journal Source | Small Wars and Insurgencies Vol. 20, No. 1; Mar 2009: p.1 - 35 |
| Key Words | Counter-Insurgency ; Counter-Terrorism ; Laws of Armed Conflict ; State Stability ; Militias ; Counter/Pseudo-Gangs |