Citation

Kerttunen M. Small Wars Insurg. 2011; 22(1): 78-118.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09592318.2011.546583

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper examines the insurgency in Nepal (1996-2008) from a military theoretical point of view. It looks at the insurgency from André Beaufre's exterior/interior framework, which is modified to match postmodern conflicts. Simultaneously the importance of the political is underlined. The author critically examines the relevance of the Maoist label the movement and insurgency have received. He claims that the insurgency became a hybrid consisting of Chinese, Latin American, and Leninist thoughts wrapped in pragmatic/revisionists and nationalist ideas. The author also suggests that the ability of insurgents - or counter-insurgents - to combine the effects of the exterior and interior is more likely to constitute the key centre of gravity of a conflict than any single political, economic, or military factor.

Language: en

Keywords

exterior; insurgency theory; interior; Maoist; Nepal; political thought