Date

5-20-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy (PhD)

Chair

William S Wilson

Keywords

Irregular warfare, doctrine, counterinsurgency, asymmetric threats, nonstate actors, democratization, stability, strategic culture.

Disciplines

Political Science | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

This dissertation project examines the influence of political perceptions and planning on the outcome in Irregular Warfare (IW). This study addressed two research questions: How does the U.S. military’s institutional predilection for prolonged, conventionally oriented approaches influence its ability to achieve desired outcomes in irregular warfare? and how does doctrinal ambiguity within the US military influence operational outcomes in Irregular Warfare.? The structured focused comparison (SFC) approach was utilized to systematically compare three case studies: US military interventions in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021; Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq, which began in 2003; and Operation Deliberate Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. Additionally, a secondary dataset on 93 irregular conflicts is statically analyzed in support of qualitative findings. The SFC method of systematic comparison allows for a detailed analysis of the case studies while maintaining a focus on a selected theoretical aspect of the phenomenon in question. This study will enrich and improve upon David Galula’s Counterinsurgency (COIN) Warfare Theory in the context of irregular warfare and stability applications. Galula’s theory predominantly focuses on irregular warfare strategies, tactics, and post-conflict efforts but lacks argument for state’s rationale to intervene in conflict. To further enrich Galula’s COIN Theory, this paper will fill the gap to address the rationale for intervention, and reconceptualize, refine, suggest new insights and even offer to replace existing ways of viewing the Irregular Warfare. Conceptually, this study identified a significant gap in existing literature. It will address the lack of doctrinal descriptions involving irregular warfare.

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