The Forgotten Front
Patron-Client Relationships in Counterinsurgency

This book explains why the United States' local allies are often as much of an obstacle to success in counterinsurgency as the insurgents themselves.

Walter C. Ladwig III (Author)

9781107170773, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 June 2017

360 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 2 cm, 0.69 kg

'The Forgotten Front marks a valuable contribution to the rapidly growing literature on the causes and consequences of security assistance between states.' Renanah F. Miles, Political Science Quarterly

After a decade and a half of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, US policymakers are seeking to provide aid and advice to local governments' counterinsurgency campaigns rather than directly intervening with US forces. This strategy, and US counterinsurgency doctrine in general, fail to recognize that despite a shared aim of defeating an insurgency, the US and its local partner frequently have differing priorities with respect to the conduct of counterinsurgency operations. Without some degree of reform or policy change on the part of the insurgency-plagued government, American support will have a limited impact. Using three detailed case studies - the Hukbalahap Rebellion in the Philippines, Vietnam during the rule of Ngo Dinh Diem, and the Salvadorian Civil War - Ladwig demonstrates that providing significant amounts of aid will not generate sufficient leverage to affect a client's behaviour and policies. Instead, he argues that influence flows from pressure and tight conditions on aid rather than from boundless generosity.

1. A recurring obstacle
2. Allies in counterinsurgency
3. Inter-alliance influence
4. America's boy? The Philippines, 1947–53: 4.1 Crafting a strategy, 1947-50
4.2 Implementing military and economic reform, 1950-1
4.3 The political effort, 19513
5. The puppet that pulled its own strings? Vietnam, 1957–63: 5.1 The Eisenhower years, 1957–60
5.2 The origins of the Kennedy commitment, 1961
5.3 The illusion of progress and the end of diem
6. The lesser of two evils? El Salvador, 1979–92: 6.1 The Carter years, 1979–80
6.2 The Reagan initiative, 1981–4
6.3 Return to stalemate, 1985–92
7. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS]