A group of insurgents that is fighting against the government. It usually has a clear ideological platform and a cohesive organizational structure, but may vary in its specific tactics. Insurgency groups can be organized in a variety of ways, from a vanguard with central control to a network with strong local connections. A common feature is the use of illegal drug trade to fund operations. These groups are usually more difficult to defeat than those that rely on official sources of revenue.
The defining characteristic of an insurgency is the fervent belief that some form of revolution or change is necessary, and that violent action will be required to achieve it. This fervor drives the insurgents to continue their campaign against seemingly impossible odds, and to obtain support from non-participant groups and governments.
Unlike traditional guerillas, modern insurgents try to create conditions that will make an alternative revolutionary government acceptable to the populace. This includes armed violence, propaganda to discredit the existing government and its supporters, the exacerbation of existing social conflicts and the creation of new ones among racial, ethnic, or religious groups, political intrigue to deprive Nation A of its power base, economic disruption, and other means.
Insurgency researchers like Ellen Wood have found that the most effective insurgents often seek to gain a broad range of benefits for their people. They share their gains, despite the enormous risks and losses they and their supporters endure, with all participants and nonparticipants alike. They also show little interest in personal, individualistic gain.
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