Guerrilla Warfare: Cause And Conflict (a 21st Century Success Story?)

Guerrilla forces have conducted irregular warfare---with varying degrees of intensity and success---in all ages and all regions of the world, from biblical times to the present. Captain Thomas contends that this spectre will haunt the world even more menacingly in the twenty-first century. He believes that an overpopulated earth, combined with the failure of governments to meet the social needs of their people, is driving the disillusioned and despairing ever more rapidly toward active participation in, or support of, guerrilla organizations. Although this essay is oriented toward the year 2000 and beyond, the author notes that the "emotional forces which ignite conflicts" already exist in most of the underdeveloped nations and soon will jolt more advanced societies as well. Actions that national leaders might take to lower the threshold of threat and to deter the growth of guerrilla organizations are suggested, together with the observation that many of the deterrents would be difficult to implement within democratic societies. Captain Walter "R" Thomas, USN, wrote this essay while a Senior Research Fellow at the National Defense University. He received a Bachelor's degree in Naval Science from the United States Naval Post-Graduate School and a Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. He also is a graduate of the Naval School of Command and Staff, the US Naval War College, and The National War College. A naval aviator, Captain Thomas has served in numerous flight units, including assignments as Commanding Officer of Reconnaissance Squadron Four and Operations Officer of the helicopter carrier, USS OKINAWA (LPH-3) in Vietnam. His shore duty hasincluded an assignment as Professor of Naval Science at the University of Nebraska and Washington assignments in the US Navy's Human Goals Program, Congressional Liaison, Politico-Military Affairs and, most recently, as Assistant Chief of Information. He is the author of two books, From a Small Naval Observatory and The Compleat Pentagon Capers, as well as numerous articles in Navy Times, US Naval Institute Proceedings, and the Naval War College Review. His Essays on War was published by the National Defense University Press in January 1981.