Irregular Warfare (IW) 101 focuses on understanding the definition and concept of IW, the operations and activities classified as IW, the global players who engage in IW, and it addresses past, current, and emerging IW trends.
Irregular warfare (IW) is a form of conflict in which state and non-state actors rely on non-traditional means—insurgency, guerrilla actions, sabotage, subversion, and information operations—rather than large-scale, conventional battlefield engagements. It is used to exploit asymmetries between opponents, allowing smaller or less-resourced forces to contest a stronger adversary by avoiding direct confrontation and instead targeting political, social, and economic vulnerabilities.
Practitioners blend military, political, economic, and informational tools to influence populations, undermine rival legitimacy, and create conditions favorable to their objectives. States may employ irregular approaches covertly or through proxies and special operations, while insurgent groups use them to erode government control and build local support. Because the conflict’s center of gravity is often perceptions and popular support rather than territory alone, irregular warfare is chosen when actors seek long-term political change, wish to avoid the costs of open war, or cannot match an opponent’s conventional capabilities.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the definition and nature of IW
- Identify operations and activities under IW
- Describe the causes and motivations of IW actors
- Summarize current IW trends
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