Quote Originally Posted by davidbfpo View Post
A short article by Professor Max Abrahams that argues conventional wisdom is wrong and tactics like leader decapitation do not help:
http://politicalviolenceataglance.or...tional-wisdom/



Referring to another article in a journal he explains why this happens:

The journal article is openly available on:https://www.academia.edu/5365151/Exp...h_Phil_Potter_

Having read the "leader decapitation never works" theory earlier I will respectfully disagree, again. It is quite possible, he is not differentiating between a terrorist group and an insurgent group. A very blurred line in case of middle east.

IMO, most insurgencies and terrorist groups, like most cults are "personality" centric and since these "personalities" eventually turn into paranoid megalomaniacs they keep other "leaders" of the movement at arms length and keep their growth stunted. When these "personalities are decapitated", their successors find themselves with the toughest job for which are they are not trained for i.e. being charismatic. Case and point, Laden and Jawahiri and also Prabhakran.

You will also find also find striking similarities mentioned above in Indian political parties and underworld gangs. Many parties who gave prime ministers to India do not exist any more and gangs who ruled cities like Mumbai are nowhere to be found.