ABSTRACT
Insurgency has become a dominant source of violent conflict in the international system. Scholars and practitioners alike debate effective methods of addressing armed resistance to the state. This entry examines leading approaches to counterinsurgency with respect to the causes and strategies of insurgents and also discusses the implications of counterinsurgency for democratic politics. Developing and employing effective methods of disarming violent challengers to the state within liberal political and legal frameworks represents a substantial challenge to public administrators and policy makers.
