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Why The Coin Doctrine Will Affect The Way Organisations Uphold The Principles Of Ihl Essay

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Counter insurgency (COIN) operations are employed to combat an insurgency. These types of operations present a highly complex operating environment within which conventional warfare is becoming more and more ineffective. COIN operations form are large proportion of modern conflicts and it is forcing organisations to develop new strategies and tactics in order for them to remain within the legal bounds of international humanitarian law (IHL). This essay will explore how committing to a COIN doctrine will affect the way organisations uphold the principles of IHL. It will also explore whether a COIN doctrine will be effective in completing operations.

An insurgency is defined by the United States government as ‘the organised use of subversion and violence to seize, nullify or challenge political control of a region’. Insurgencies have been present throughout history as a form of warfare, however combatting an insurgency has always been difficult even in the modern era. In recent operations in Afghanistan, religious extremism and ethnic intolerance have given rise to fanatical groups that pose complex challenges which threaten social and political stability. These group utilise all available means in order to gain an advantage as they struggle for “the acceptance by the people of the state or region of the legitimacy of one side’s claim to power”. Results of this include the exploitation of the Laws of Armed Combat (LOAC) and the rules of engagement (ROE) used by COIN forces.

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