Galula in Algeria: Counterinsurgency Practice versus Theory (Praeger Security International)

This groundbreaking investigation uncovers serious mismatches between David Galulas counterinsurgency practice in Algeria and his counterinsurgency theory―the foundation of current U.S. counterinsurgency doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan.Given the centrality of David Galulas theory to U.S. Counterinsurgency (COIN) doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan it is striking that there has been no independent evaluation of Galulas recollection of his COIN operations in Algeria. Galula in Algeria: Counterinsurgency Practice versus Theory delivers just such an analysis exploring the colonial French counter-insurrectionary theoretical milieu of which Galulas COIN theory was a part the influence of Galulas theory on U.S. COIN doctrine and the current views of Galulas theory in France and other NATO countries. French defense researcher Grégor Mathias compares each of the eight steps of Galulas theory set out in Counterinsurgency Warfare against his practice of them as described in his writings and now for the first time against the SAS archives and those of Galulas infantry company and battalion. The study shows that Galula systematically inflated his operational successes to match his theoretical scheme and that he left problems unresolved causing his work to unravel quickly after he left his command. Mathias concludes that however heuristically fruitful Galulas theory might prove for U.S. COIN doctrine it must be interpreted and implemented under the caveat that it was not successfully field-tested by its author..MapsA glossaryA bibliography