Popular rebellion, state response and our failure to date: a debate

[davidbfpo]

Adapted from M-A Lagrange's post on the Libyan thread (No.682).

What struck me in the Libyan story is the incapacity of the modern state to deal with popular uprising(s). It is clear now that we just do not know, want or can deal with non-state actors, even if it's a population and not an armed group.

Basically we have not evolved, what ever we say, since the 'Cold War'. Tactics and technical factors have evolved, but states are still limited by their obligations to deal with a state, whether it is legitimate or not.

I really think that we - the SWJ community - have to start thinking in depth on this.

Quick scan of the headings here found nothing similar, although we may have touched upon the failure to adapt of the modern, western state elsewhere.