The Insurgent State: Territorial Bases of Revolution

ABSTRACT For contemporary national revolutions, the capture and control of territory has virtually become a “territorial imperative.'’Control of a geographic part of the state is a manifesto proclaiming: “We have arrived. We are ready to replace the existing government.'’Each stage of a guerrilla war has its basis in geographic as well as political circumstances. “Mobile war'’is required when the insurgent is unable to establish a base in the cities and must continually move to avoid capture by government troops. Once a base area is established, it is possible to enter the stage of “guerrilla war.'’If a system of guerrilla base areas evolves, then a parallel state (insurgent state) is formed. It is the continual effort to create an insurgent state, complete with the elements of power, a raison d'etre, core areas, and administrative units that is the manifestation of the insurgent's territorial imperative.