ABSTRACT

This volume of case studies examines the rise in violent extremism, terrorism and insurgency in South and South East Asia, and subsequent state responses.

The South and South East of Asia has experienced various forms of extremism and violence for years, with a growing demand for academic or policy-relevant work that will enhance understanding of the reasons behind this. The violent challenges in this area have taken a variety of forms and are often exacerbated by lack of governance, tie-ins to existing regional criminal networks, colonial legacies and a presence of international terrorist movements. Written by experts with field experience, this volume analyzes the key element of successful response as the appropriate application of doctrine following nuanced assessment of threat. In practice, this often means counterinsurgency doctrine. The essays also analyze the need for irregular war practitioners to systematically examine the changing character of intrastate violent irregular challenges. The volume fills a gap in the understanding of patterns, drivers, organizations and ideologies of various insurgent and terrorist groups, and state responses. It also provides a set of recommendations for addressing the unfolding situation. 

This book will be of much interest to students of terrorism and political violence, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, Asian politics and security studies in general.

chapter |14 pages

Introduction

Understanding insurgencies and violent extremism in South and South East Asia

part I|2 pages

Emerging challenges

part II|2 pages

Cautious optimism – or false dawn?

chapter 6|44 pages

Back to the future

Nepali people’s war as “new war”

chapter 7|15 pages

India’s two-track response to the Naxalite movement

Security and development, but no political process

chapter 9|15 pages

Countering violent extremism

The Singapore experience

part III|2 pages

Quagmires

chapter 13|15 pages

Counterinsurgency in Pakistan

The role of legitimacy

chapter 14|9 pages

Thailand’s south

Roots of conflict

part IV|2 pages

Victory?

chapter 15|29 pages

Size still matters

Explaining Sri Lanka’s counterinsurgency victory over the Tamil Tigers

chapter 16|37 pages

Sri Lanka

State response to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

chapter |12 pages

Conclusion

Framing effective responses and future pathways