Title: A methodology to explore the impact of policy changes on insurgencies

Authors: John A. Sokolowski, Catherine M. Banks

Addresses: Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, Old Dominion University, 1030 University Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23435, USA. ' Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, Old Dominion University, 1030 University Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23435, USA

Abstract: This study proposes a methodology to model the flow of a population into and out of an insurgency as a way of assessing counter-insurgency strategy and government policy. The causes, means and capacity of insurgencies are fluid, but the influence of government policy can be constant. Therefore, exploring the impact of policy change on insurgencies is valid and useful. This research provides a historical analysis of insurgency to provide a set number of variables that affect population behaviour in what are traditional insurgency activities. It then progresses to a specific case study, Colombia, a state that is now waging its insurgency as part of the Global War on Terrorism. A system dynamics approach will capture the model and represent the complex interdependencies of the variables influencing the system. The result is a model that portrays the effects of policy change in the state of Colombia.

Keywords: insurgency; terrorism; system dynamics; policy modelling; policy changes; counter-insurgency strategy; government policy; Colombia; War on Terror.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSE.2009.029907

International Journal of System of Systems Engineering, 2009 Vol.1 No.3, pp.314 - 328

Published online: 02 Dec 2009 *

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