ADP Operations insurgency and its characteristics are placed into the overall spectrum of conflict and are outlined in general terms.

The requirements for a counter insurgency strategy are then described together with the appropriate guidelines and planning requirements for subsequent operations.

This publication follows closely the thrust, direction and sequence of the outline given in ADP Operations, enlarging and developing the points made for application at the strategic and operational levels of conflict.

The first portion describes what insurgencies are, the historical development of revolutions and insurgencies into the twentieth century and some of their associated characteristics. It then analyses the conduct of an insurgency; how it functions and operates, and the sort of tactics that may be used to prosecute the aims of an insurgency. It concludes with an outline of the position of insurgency in society today.

The second portion deals with the issues of countering insurgency at the strategic and operational level. The first five chapters cover aspects of the law, the principles of counter insurgency, a concept of operations and the coordination of a plan of action by a government at the strategic level. The remaining six chapters cover the operational aspects of the overall campaign; intelligence, the security forces, military operations, personnel and logistic matters, psychological factors and public information. It concludes with a section on civil affairs.

In the past many terms have been used to describe those opposing the established authorities, terms such as guerrilla, revolutionary, terrorist, dissident, rebel, partisan, native and enemy all spring to mind. In order to keep consistency throughout this publication the term insurgent has been used to describe those taking part in any activity designed to undermine or to overthrow the established authorities.

To help the reader further, some definitions for various terms used in a counter insurgency context as well as a bibliography for the general reader are recorded at the end.