Power to the people: A new insurgency?

[SoiCowboy]

(I'm wary of using the word 'new' because this could have always have been there, just not recognized, or have existed in the past, but it seems new enough to me.)

I reckon that we are seeing a new type of insurgency, and that is thanks to the internet, the black market and the failure of the Western state model outside of the 'West'.

The internet provides a virtual sanctuary that can provide arms/money/technology/trade/info/etc and it can mobilize recruits. A good example would be the 7/7 bombers who self radicalised, or the Mexican drug gangs who are now copying the online Islamists.

The black market provides funds through the sale of drugs, e.g. FARC, diamonds e.g. RUF, oil e.g. MEND and thanks to the collapse of the Soviet Union you can now have good, functional military equipment.

With the collapse of the state outside of the West, you have the establishment of tribal, mafia, and insurgent states which since they operate outside of the law, reinforce and encourage the above two factors.

I don't know whether it will replace older models of insurgency but I do think it is a development. I'm think it might be the rise of a criminal insurgency or an individual insurgency model.

What do you think? And can you point me towards any similiar arguments / counter arguments. I've found similar arguments withthe 'new medievalists', Kaplans 'Coming Anarchy', and Creveld on the collapse of the state.

I'm looking at John Robbs 'Hollow state', 'open source' insurgency concepts at the moment.

[Granite_State]

(I'm wary of using the word 'new' because this could have always have been there, just not recognized, or have existed in the past, but it seems new enough to me.)

I reckon that we are seeing a new type of insurgency, and that is thanks to the internet, the black market and the failure of the Western state model outside of the 'West'.

The internet provides a virtual sanctuary that can provide arms/money/technology/trade/info/etc and it can mobilize recruits. A good example would be the 7/7 bombers who self radicalised, or the Mexican drug gangs who are now copying the online Islamists.

The black market provides funds through the sale of drugs, e.g. FARC, diamonds e.g. RUF, oil e.g. MEND and thanks to the collapse of the Soviet Union you can now have good, functional military equipment.

With the collapse of the state outside of the West, you have the establishment of tribal, mafia, and insurgent states which since they operate outside of the law, reinforce and encourage the above two factors.

I don't know whether it will replace older models of insurgency but I do think it is a development. I'm think it might be the rise of a criminal insurgency or an individual insurgency model.

What do you think? And can you point me towards any similiar arguments / counter arguments. I've found similar arguments withthe 'new medievalists', Kaplans 'Coming Anarchy', and Creveld on the collapse of the state.

I'm looking at John Robbs 'Hollow state', 'open source' insurgency concepts at the moment.

Might want to jump in on the discussion thread on Robb.