Civil Side of Irregular Warfare

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Civil Side of Irregular Warfare

L. J. Ticknor

This monograph explores the role of civil affairs or civic action in irregular warfare by posing the question: can civil affairs operations be utilized as an offensive capability in irregular warfare? The purpose of this research is to contribute further understanding and clarification of the irregular warfare concept. The case studies chosen were HAMAS, Hezbollah, and CORDS which offer multiple perspectives from which to pose the research question. The monograph explores the timing and relationship between civil activities, such as governance and social services, and lethal operations. The research demonstrates that civic action could precede doctrine's current description of the onset of irregular warfare. This conclusion implies a potential reframing of Irregular Warfare in U.S. doctrine, the development of additional tools to enhance understanding of the operational environment, and the need for a theory and refined definition of civil affairs.