Counter-Insurgency

noun

/ˌkaʊn.tər ɪnˈsɜː.dʒən.si/

Military, paramilitary, political, economic, and civilian operations and activities conducted by a government to defeat an organised armed movement seeking to overthrow the established authority; it integrates coercive operations with development initiatives, governance improvement, and winning the trust of the local population

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The success of counter-insurgency in Mizoram — where negotiated settlements, granting statehood, and economic development proved more effective than purely military operations — offers a model that contrasts with purely kinetic approaches to internal security.

Synonyms

COIN operationsanti-insurgencyinternal security operationsstability operations

Antonyms

insurgencyrebellionarmed uprising

🌱 Word Family

counter-insurgency (n), COIN (abbreviation), insurgency (n), counter-insurgent (n/adj)

🔡 Root

Old French contre = against (from Latin contra) + Latin insurgere = to rise against (in- = against + surgere = to rise)

📜 Etymology

Counter-insurgency doctrine developed through British colonial campaigns (Malaya, 1948-1960), the US in Vietnam, and has been extensively theorised in David Galula's Counterinsurgency Warfare (1964); in India, the Army's counter-insurgency doctrine in the Northeast and J&K has evolved through AFSPA, Unified Command structures, and development-focused WHAM (Winning Hearts and Minds) operations

🧠 Memory Hook

COUNTER + INSURGENCY: you COUNTER (fight back against) the INSURGENCY (armed uprising) — fighting fire with fire, but also with governance and development

🛡️ Internal Security 📖 Seen in: Internal Security — Threats, Cyber Sec...

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