British Counterinsurgency
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Overview
British Counterinsurgency examines the insurgencies that have confronted the British State since the end of the Second World War, and at the methods used to fight them. It looks at the guerrilla campaigns in Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, South Yemen, Oman, and most recently in Northern Ireland, and considers the reasons for British success or failure in suppressing them. It provides a hard-nosed account of the realities of counterinsurgency as practiced by the most experienced security establishment in the world today.
Synopsis
Examining the British political and military response to guerilla war and rebellion in Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Aden, South Yemen, Oman, and Northern Ireland, Newsinger (history, Bath Spa University College) evaluates the relative successes and failures of British strategy. He argues that the largely celebratory literature of British military success is extremely overstated and that the key to understanding the achievement of British goals lay in the ability to establish a large enough political base among inhabitants prepared to assist in defeating insurgents. In short, he suggests, divide and rule remained the key to success in the wars that accompanied the end of the British Empire. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Booknews
Examining the British political and military response to guerilla war and rebellion in Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Aden, South Yemen, Oman, and Northern Ireland, Newsinger (history, Bath Spa University College) evaluates the relative successes and failures of British strategy. He argues that the largely celebratory literature of British military success is extremely overstated and that the key to understanding the achievement of British goals lay in the ability to establish a large enough political base among inhabitants prepared to assist in defeating insurgents. In short, he suggests, divide and rule remained the key to success in the wars that accompanied the end of the British Empire. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)