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= Definition =
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 control. [[Counterinsurgency Operations|Counterinsurgency]] is military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychological, and civic actions taken by a government to defeat insurgency.  Insurgents and counterinsurgents seek to [[Mobilization Means and Causes|mobilize popular support for their cause]]. Counterinsurgents have to determine not only their opponents’ motivation but also the [[Insurgent Approaches|approach]] being used to advance the insurgency.  There are also several important [[Elements of Insurgency|elements]], [[Dynamics of an Insurgency|dynamics]], and [[Insurgent Vulnerabilities|insurgent vulnerabilities]] for counterinsurgents to consider as well. <ref name="FM 3-24" group="ref">[[FM 3-24|Counterinsurgency Field Manual 3-24]]</ref>

=== Types of Insurgencies ===
* [[type::Anarchist]]
* [[type::Egalitarian]]
* [[type::Traditionalist]]
* [[type::Anarchist]]
* [[type::Pluralist]]
* [[type::Secessionist]]
* [[type::Reformist]]
* [[type::Preservationist]]

<ref group="ref">Bard E. O'Neill. Derick W. Brinkerhoff. "Insurgency and Terrorism: Inside Modern Revolutionary Warfare." Dulles, Virgina: Brassey's Inc., 1990.</ref>

=== Insurgency Characteristics ===
* [[has characteristic::Insurgent Objectives]]
* [[has characteristic::Insurgent Motivations]]
* [[has characteristic::Popular Support]] OR [[has characteristic::Tolerance]]
* [[has characteristic::Support Activities]], [[has characteristic::Support Capabilities|Capabilities]], and [[has characteristic::Support Vulnerabilities|Vulnerabilities]]
* [[has characteristic::Information Activities]], [[has characteristic::Information Capabilities|Capabilities]], and [[[[has characteristic::Information Vulnerabilities|Vulnerabilities]]
* [[has characteristic::Political Activities]], [[has characteristic::Political Capabilities|Capabilities]], and [[has characteristic::Political Vulnerabilities|Vulnerabilities]]
* [[has characteristic::Violent Activities]], [[has characteristic::Violent Capabilities|Capabilities]], and [[has characteristic::Violent Vulnerabilities|Vulnerabilities]]
* [[has characteristic::Organization]]
* [[has characteristic::Key Leaders]] and [[has characteristic::Personalities]]

Insurgency characteristics also have [[Insurgency Characteristics and Intelligence|considerations]] with regards to intelligence requirements.

=== Insurgents and Their Motives ===
Examining the specific type of insurgency enables counterinsurgents to build a more accurate picture of the insurgents and the thinking behind their overall approach. Such an examination identifies the following:
* Root cause or causes of the insurgency
* Extent to which the insurgency enjoys internal and [[Foreign Support Variables|external support]]
* Basis (including the ideology and narrative) on which insurgents appeal to the target population
* Insurgents' motivation and depth of commitment
* Likely insurgent weapons and tactics
* Operational environment in which insurgents seek to initiate and develop their campaign and strategy
<ref name="FM 3-24" group="ref">[[FM 3-24|Counterinsurgency Field Manual 3-24]]</ref>

=== How Insurgency Can be Measured ===
There are three dimensions of insurgency (onset, duration, and intensity) and three types of insurgency ([[has form::terrorism]], [[has form::guerilla war]], and [[has form::open civil war]]) that should be considered in policy relevant research related to [[Measures of Insurgency|measuring insurgency]]. The operational importance of these different definitions or outcomes can be seen in the variation in questions that can be asked by the policy community:
# Why do insurgencies begin ([[measured by::onset]])?
# Why do some end quickly while others persist for long periods of time ([[measured by::duration]])?
# Why do insurgencies become stronger or weaker as time goes by ([[measured by::intensity]])?
Each question, moreover, is subject to the refinement associated with the level of insurgency associated with either terrorism, guerilla warfare, or open civil warfare.

=== Research on the Causes of Insurgency ===
There is significant [[Causes of Insurgency|research on the causes of insurgency]] and we break our literature review down into six categories, each of which is given a place of prominence in [[FM 3-24]].  While we make distinctions among scholarship according to these categories, at times the categorization itself might be a distinction without meaning.  Put differently, there are numerous conceptual overlaps within and among the categories into which we place various themes of scholarship.  

=== Global Correlates of Insurgency  ===
Analysis on the [[Global Correlates of Insurgency|global correlates of insurgency]] presents statistical results that estimates the effects of some of the determinants of insurgency onset as identified in the COIN Field Manual using multiple regression.

= Alternate Definitions =
# An organized movement aimed at the overthrow of a constituted government through use of subversion and armed conflict. ([[JP 1-02]])
# An organized, armed political struggle whose goal may be the seizure of power through revolutionary takeover and replacement of the existing government. However, insurgencies’ goals may be more limited. Insurgencies generally follow a revolutionary doctrine and use armed force as an instrument of policy. ([[FM 100-20]], 1990) 
# An organized movement aimed at the overthrow of an established government or societal structure, or the expulsion of a foreign military presence, through the use of subversion and armed conflict. (Proposed by US [[Special Operations Command]])

== References ==
<references group="ref" />

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