Terrorism and Counterinsurgency (TCI)

September 2013
Application period: Closed

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» Course Director: Dr. Alejandro Arbeláez

The course is taught in Spanish - The purpose of this course is to enhance participants' understanding and ability to analyze conflicts dominated by insurgency and terrorism. The students will be able to evaluate and analyze the nature of the threat as well as the merit of comparative policy response options to confront these phenomena in a democratic context on the basis of reestablishing political stability, strengthening national security, and protecting the rule of law.

The students will study the reasons for the emergence of insurgency and terrorism, the comparative political and theoretical approaches to insurgent strategy, mobilization, operations and organization as well as the comparative countermeasures in each one of the relevant areas. 

This will be done through an initial period of intense discussion and exposure to the current literature on the evolution of insurgent and counter-insurgent thought and approaches. This discussion will be enhanced and illustrated by the presentation of historical and current case studies demonstrating national, regional, transnational and global challenges of insurgency and terrorism such as the FMLN, FARC, ELN, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, IRA, ETA and others.

Participants will assess problems, validate arguments, and explore policy options and implications through group study, seminars, and individual research. The program provides the opportunity for participants from different countries to share ideas and carry out cooperative study and professional initiatives. The course is composed of a distance phase, a residency phase in Washington, D.C., and a final research paper. 

For course dates, consult the CHDS academic calendar.