BOOK REVIEW

Guerilla Warfare, by Roger E. Hamilton

With the country’s internal divisions reaching a higher pitch with each passing week, the possibility of civil disturbances, or worse, has become a frequent topic of conversation. While it’s easy to dismiss those suggestions as hyperbole, it’s worth taking some time to consider what the early stages of conflict might actually look like. Roger Hamilton’s Guerilla Warfare provides an overview of the tactics that could be employed by an insurgent or insurrectionist group seeking to alter the balance of power in a future asymmetrical conflict.

Written in the style of a manual, Guerilla Warfare is a clear, plainly worded tract that lets the reader quickly absorb guerilla tactics and strategy at a high level. The book includes chapters on special operations, counterinsurgency and finance but also addresses prosaic topics like equipment, supplies, reconnaissance, personnel and training. The stripped down style allows you to quickly absorb the basic elements of the conception, planning and execution of a guerilla challenge to a large, conventional force. More importantly from the perspective of preparedness, it evokes a clear vision of what all of these activities might look like in an otherwise mundane urban or suburban environment and how it might evolve to alter the day-to-day environment.

Guerilla Warfare makes insightful observations about the direct connection between ideology and morale and the success of a guerilla movement. Hamilton identifies at the outset the necessity of strong ideological bonding to overcome the risks of injury and captivity that accompany participation in guerilla activity. The book goes on to devote an entire chapter to the use of psychological warfare in confronting

a stronger and better equipped enemy, with discussions of the role of the local population, culture, economic and political factors.

Perhaps the most fascinating portion of Guerilla Warfare is its review of historically significant guerilla initiatives, including those in Cuba, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. The principles developed throughout the book are brought to bear on these case studies, deepening the reader’s understanding of guerilla strategy and tactics and the ways in which they have been employed in some of the most important armed conflicts of recent times.

A shortcoming is the book’s lack of granularity. It is a survey that is broad but not as deep as it could be. It’s surprising that Hamilton took this approach given his expertise in the field. The book forward states that Hamilton received a master’s degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and has 20 years of military service and extensive experience in irregular warfare and counterinsurgency operations. It would have seemed natural for him to draw more heavily on those resources to include information in the book that felt actionable. Perhaps that’s precisely what he was trying to avoid. Nevertheless, Guerilla Warfare remains a worthwhile undertaking for anyone who wants to have a better grasp on the likely signs of a deepening domestic conflict in the months and years to come.