Insurgency and Revolution

Catalog description

This course provides a critical analysis of the origins, structures, and contemporary importance of insurgency and revolutionary movements in the modern world. Drawing on major theories and analytical frameworks, the course examines how revolutionaries and insurgent movements emerge, organize, and pursue fundamental change through various forms of conflict, including armed conflict, guerrilla warfare, and prolonged war, often aimed at the overthrow of existing government authority. Using comparative case studies tested against the historical record, students analyze the political, economic, and social conditions that shape insurgency, including struggles for control within and against established institutions and authoritarian regimes. Emphasis is placed on understanding ideology, strategy, and the effectiveness of revolutionary action across different historical and geopolitical contexts. By the end of the course, students develop a foundational ability to analyze how insurgent and revolutionary movements evolve over time and to assess future challenges associated with revolution and insurgency.