Communist Insurgencies and the Relevance of the Concepts of Center of Gravity and Decisive Points
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This paper analyzes the relevancy of the terms center of gravity and decisive points at the operational level of war in communist insurgencies. It begins by proposing acceptable meanings for the terms center of gravity, decisive points, subversion, insurgency, and counter-insurgency. The subsequent portion of the analysis explores the characteristics of insurgent warfare. Historical examples illustrate each characteristic by establishing a situation and context of historical significance. It is in this context that the study examines the characteristics of communist insurgency and their relati...
This paper analyzes the relevancy of the terms center of gravity and decisive points at the operational level of war in communist insurgencies. It begins by proposing acceptable meanings for the terms center of gravity, decisive points, subversion, insurgency, and counter-insurgency. The subsequent portion of the analysis explores the characteristics of insurgent warfare. Historical examples illustrate each characteristic by establishing a situation and context of historical significance. It is in this context that the study examines the characteristics of communist insurgency and their relation to the terms center of gravity and decisive points at the operational level of conflict. This study found that an analysis of insurgencies clearly identifies an operational center of gravity for cellular-type insurgencies such as communist insurgencies. The communist cells of active supporters neatly fulfills the Clausewitzian concept for center of gravity with only minor modification. The most important characteristic is that they are truly the "hub of all power and movement, on which everything else depends." They are the source of supplies, recruits and intelligence for the entire insurgency. Although they are not physically concentrated as Clausewitz demands, they derive strength from the security of their dispersion and will concentrate when necessary. The communist cells and active supporters are the cohesion of the movement. As Clausewitz said, "Where there is cohesion, the analogy of center of gravity can be applied." Because a communist insurgency's center of mass is usually dispersed, its center of gravity is difficult to identify. Consequently, operational planners must normally strike the insurgency's center of gravity indirectly by attacking its decisive points. Thus, Jomini's decisive points are especially applicable to communist insurgencies. There are several decisive points the operational planner should target when planning a counterinsurgency operation. C
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