Blueprints for Red Insurgencies: Revolutionary Ideology and Strategy in India and Colombia

Increasingly, scholars agree that role of ideology in civil wars goes beyond mere window-dressing. With respect to leftist insurgencies, we argue that ideology provides insurgent groups an understanding of pivotal constituents (urban or rural) and the timing of revolution (imminent or distant). These factors shape insurgent groups" politico-military strategies, which may be insurrectionary, militarist Maoist, or protracted people"s war. We develop case studies of the FARC and the EPL in Colombia, and the CPI(ML) and Andhra Maoists in India, using primary sources including conference proceedings, newsletters, pamphlets, and letters of insurgent groups and leaders.Increasingly, scholars agree that role of ideology in civil wars goes beyond mere window-dressing. With respect to leftist insurgencies, we argue that ideology provides insurgent groups an understanding of pivotal constituents (urban or rural) and the timing of revolution (imminent or distant). These factors shape insurgent groups" politico-military strategies, which may be insurrectionary, militarist Maoist, or protracted people"s war. We develop case studies of the FARC and the EPL in Colombia, and the CPI(ML) and Andhra Maoists in India, using primary sources including conference proceedings, newsletters, pamphlets, and letters of insurgent groups and leaders.

Blueprints for Red Insurgencies: Revolutionary Ideology and Strategy in India and Colombia Articles