ABSTRACT
Confronting the insurgency in Xinjiang would be impossible without will to act, no matter how capable the forces, rich the country, or necessary the fight. Political will is the causal enabling factor for effective counter-insurgency. The core’s political will alone does not determine victory, but without will an abortive and failed COIN is likely: tactics and resources will not be found, and the forces within society will create myriad frictions with which to grind state actions to a halt. Society must support the state, either through cooperation or complacency; the greater social demand for action the more likely the state will supply an effective COIN.
