Soviet Expansion: Formation of the Eastern Bloc.
Political warfare also includes aggressive activities by one actor to offensively gain relative advantage or control over another. Between nation states, the end could be seizure of power and open assimilation of the victimized state into the political system or power complex of the aggressor. This aggressor-victim relationship has also been seen between rivals within a state and may involve tactics like assassination, paramilitary activity, coup d'etat, insurgency, revolution, and guerrilla and civil war.
Foreign Infiltration or Liberation occurs when a government is overthrown by foreign military or diplomatic intervention, or through covert means. The campaign's ultimate purpose is to gain control over another nation's political and social structure. The campaign could be led by the aggressor's national forces or by creating a new aggressive political faction within the state which is favorable to the aggressor. Paul M. Blackstock describes three stages involved in the extension of control by the aggressor over the victim:
1. Penetration or Infiltration: the deliberate infiltration of political and social groups within a victim state by the aggressor, with the ultimate purpose of extending influence and control. The aggressor conceals its endgame, which goes beyond the normal influential nature of diplomacy and involves espionage.
2. Forced Disintegration or Atomization: "is the breakdown of the political and social structure of the victim until the fabric of national morale disintegrates and the state is unable to resist further intervention." The aggressor may exploit the inevitable internal tensions between political, class, ethnic, religious, racial, and other groups.This concept is similar to the age old strategy of 'divide and conquer'.
3. Subversion and Defection: Subversion is the "undermining or detachment of the loyalties of significant political and social groups within the victimized state, and their transference to the political or ideological causes of the aggressor." In lieu of total transference, the aggressor may accept intermediate states that still meets its objectives, such as the favor of politically significant individuals. Furthermore, the formation of a counter-elite, made up of influential individuals and key leaders, within the victim state establishes the legitimacy and permanency of a new regime. Defection is the transference of allegiance of key individuals and leaders to the aggressor's camp. The individual could relocate or stay-in-place in the victim country, continually influencing local issues and events in the aggressor's favor. Defectors also provide insider information to the aggressor.
Pullout of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. 1988.
The Soviet Union remains an comprehensive example of an aggressive nation which expanded its empire through covert infiltration and direct military involvement.Following World War II, the Soviet Union believed European economies would disintegrate, leaving social and economic chaos and allowing for Soviet expansion into new territories. The Soviets quickly deployed organizational weapons like non-political front groups, sponsored 'spontaneous' mass appeals, and puppet politicians. While many of these countries' political and social structures were in post-war disarray, the Soviet's proxy communist parties were well-organized and able to take control of these weak, newly formed governments in Eastern Europe.Moreover, the clandestine operations of the Soviet intelligence services and the occupying forces of the Soviet military further infiltrated the political and social spheres of the new satellites.Conversely, in 1979, the Soviet Union was unable to successfully penetrate the Afghan society, after supporting a coup which brought a new Marxist government to power. While Soviet units were already in Kabul, Afghanistan at the time of the coup, additional Soviet troops arrived to reinforce the units and seize important provincial cities, bringing the total of Soviet troops inside Afghanistan to 125-140,000. The Soviets were unprepared for the Afghan resistance which included classic guerrilla tactics and foreign support. In 1989, Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan, having been unable to infiltrate the Afghan society or immobilize the resistance
Fidel Castro on July 1, 1977. Castro staged a coup in 1959 and installed a communist government.
Coup d'Etat is the overthrowing of a government through the infiltration of the political, military, and social groups by a small segment of the state apparatus. The small segment exists within the state and targets the critical political levers of power within a government to neutralize opposition to the coup and post-coup governing force. Several pre-existing factors are necessary for a coup, to include:
Centralized political participation to a few within the population
Independence from foreign power influence and control
Power and decision-making authority concentrated within a political center and not diffused between regional authorities, businesses, or other groups
A coup utilizes political resources to gain support within the existing state and neutralize/immobilize those who are capable of rallying against the coup. A successful coup occurs rapidly and after taking over the government, it will stabilize the situation by controlling communications and mobility. Furthermore, a new government must gain acceptance from the public and military and administrative structures, by reducing the sense of insecurity. Ultimately, the new government will seek legitimacy in the eyes of its own people as well as seek foreign recognition. The coup d'etat can be led by national forces or involve foreign influence, similar to foreign liberation or infiltration.
Paramilitary Operations: transitional political warfare ranging from small-scale use of violence with primitive organizational structure, like sabotage, to full-scale conventional war. The transition and escalation includes a series of stages and depends on tactical and strategic objectives. Paramilitary activities include infiltration and subversion as well as small group operations, insurrection, and civil war.
Iraqi insurgents are on the surface of the municipality of Ar Ramadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, 2005.
Insurgency: an organized, protracted political warfare tool designed to weaken the control and eliminate the legitimacy of an established government, occupying power, or other political authority.An insurgency is an internal conflict, and the primary struggle is to mobilize local populations for political control and gain popular support towards the insurgents' cause. Insurgencies include political and military objectives, with the end goal of establishing a legitimate, rival state structure.Insurgencies are unconventional military conflicts, and incorporate a variety of methods, ranging from coercive tools like intimidation and assassination, to political tools like propaganda and social services. An insurgency's approaches and objectives could involve:
Sow disorder and violence; demonstrating the government's inability to provide security for the populace
Weaken the government and kill/intimidate any effective opposition government leadership
Intimidate the population and discourage its participation in or support for political or legal processes
Control or intimidate police and military forces; limit their ability to respond to insurgent attacks
Create government repression by provoking over-reactions by security or military forces; exploit through propaganda!