Guerrilla warfare is an ancient concept. Sun Tzu wrote on the subject in the Art of War. Likewise, insurgencies have existed as long as there have been powers to wage them against. Insurgencies often utilize guerrilla warfare as a successful strategy in facing off against larger, more advantaged adversaries. Beyond this, the irregular war of this kind has been an element of almost every conflict ever fought. In recent years the study of, misleadingly labeled, ‘small wars’ has undergone a renaissance as the reality of their predominance has regained recognition among militaries and academics around the world. Insurgencies are able to absorb massive amounts of resources whilst serving to destabilize entire regions; indeed, insurgency can, and does, kill empires. For this reason, the study of conflicts from this lens is critical to understanding and confronting the world around us as well as the security concerns it presents.

This purpose of this book is to present and examine various historical examples of this form of war. Valuable lessons can be gleaned from examining and understanding past conflicts of this kind. Each of these conflicts hold their own unique characteristics as well as broad common themes. The nature of guerrilla warfare as it relates to insurgency and the way these forces confront ‘conventional’ advisories can inform approaches to modern irregular, hybrid, and even ‘conventional’ wars. In an effort to understand the complexity of these conflicts alternative perspectives and underrepresented examples will be introduced. By looking at these historical lessons our understanding can be considerably altered.

This book will compile a collection of chapters dealing with various and often overlooked historical examples of guerrilla insurgency. These chapters will present their unique qualities as well as common themes. Chapter subjects can focus on any aspect of their historical example and authors may approach the subject from whatever lens they feel appropriate. Authors are also free to emphasize, through their retelling of events, whatever particular themes, major policies, or particular policy / strategy disputes they feel to be of significance.

To give an example, the primary editor will be contributing a chapter examine the Yugoslavia revolt in the Second World War as a war of resistance, civil war, and revolution within the context of a larger conventional war.

Proposals for chapters dealing with historical examples that involve significant guerrilla theorists, for example, T.E Lawrence and the Arab Revolt, Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution, or Mao Zedong and the Chinese Revolution, would be most welcome. More significantly, underrepresented historical examples from antiquity and the modern period would be particularly well received. Authors dealing with the naval dimensions of insurgency/ Counter-insurgency and guerrilla warfare would be particularly welcomed.

Deadline for the chapter proposals: 31 October 2018

The Editor has existing relationships with several publishers who will be approached once the chapters have been assigned.

Please send a 300-word chapter proposal and a 150-word bio to christopher.murray@kcl.ac.uk