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Indicative Pre-Exam (The
actual exam will follow this form but the specific questions may be
different.)
This is a course about insurgency and counterinsurgency. Insurgency is an organized movement aimed at overthrowing a
government through the use of subversion and violence. An insurgency is an organized, protracted
politico-military struggle designed to weaken the control and legitimacy of
an established government, occupying power, or other political authority
while increasing insurgent influence and seeking to establish insurgent
political control. Terrorism is
premeditated, politically motivated violence which is clandestinely organized
and carried out against civilian or military targets with the objective of
creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity and with the overall goal of
promoting a political agenda involving the transformation of the political
system or society. Insurgents see themselves at war but they typically conduct
irregular warfare. The Counterinsurgency is defined by insurgency because its goal is
to obviate, neutralize or eliminate insurgency. The victory of a counterinsurgency campaign
is achieved when the insurgents desist from violence, terrorism, or illegal
attempts to win political control.
Counterinsurgency describes the military, paramilitary, political,
economic, psychological, and civic actions taken by a government to defeat
insurgency. A counterinsurgency
campaign is a mix of offensive, defensive, and stability operations conducted
along multiple lines of operations. A
counterinsurgency campaign requires a mix of war-fighting combat tasks and
civic normalization tasks. The combat
tasks are designed to dissuade, damage, disarm and
destroy insurgents. The combat tasks
are typically conventional military responsibilities. The civil reconstruction tasks are designed
to persuade, assist and rebuild society.
These are tasks more often associated with nonmilitary agencies. State Characteristics Below is a list of important countries for
our study. Attached
here is a portion of the world map.
Look up the population of the countries at www.prb.org or some other reliable source and
list the countries’ populations.
Summarize the form of government.
There are many forms of government.
Monarchy, dictatorship, military control, democracy are a few general
forms. Use any reputable source for
categorizing governments and cite your source. An acceptable source is The CIA World Factbook. (www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/)
Many other sources are acceptable, but the source must be cited. [20 points]
2)
Key Concepts Provide a succinct definition of the
following terms as used in the study of insurgency. For each term, explain how the concept is significant
with respect to public policy or political theory regarding insurgency. [20 points] Terrorism Insurgency Counterinsurgency Deterrable and Non-deterrable threats 3)
General Assembly Review [30 points each] The Secretary General called upon your
group to present policy proposals to the General Assembly, addressing the
most important policy issues and policy initiatives. Each group puts forward concrete proposals. The proposals were required to include not
only a statement of objectives but also a statement of proposed activities
designed to achieve the objectives.
The group was asked to stipulate preferences for expenditures in activitie in all areas covered by the group teams. Comment on your group’s statements of objectives
and proposed activities. Compare your
group’s proposals with what you have witnessed as actual policy initiatives. 5) Short
Essay The division between Shia and Sunni sects dates back to a period of dispute and
competition over political power following the death of the Prophet Muhammad
(632 AD). Some Muslims felt that the
successor to Muhammad should be chosen by an elective process and others felt
that the successor to Muhammad should be chosen on the principle of
hereditary succession. Muhammad's
advisor, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph,
establishing the Sunni tradition. Shia Muslims maintained that political leadership should
have passed directly to Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali. Shia
Muslims. Accordingly, have not
recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders and, as “the Party of
Ali,” they have become known as the followers of “Ahl-al-Bayt”
or “family of the Prophet.” Sunni Muslims have contended that leadership of
the community is not a birthright, but a trust that is earned and which may
be given or taken away by the people themselves. Shia and Sunni
Muslims share the main articles of Islamic belief, although Shiites Muslims
put greater emphasis upon the Muslim clergy, the Imams. Is the division
between Shia and Sunni sects important for the
study of contemporary insurgency? Give
reasons to explain your answer based on the material we have covered in this
course. [30 points] |
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