Global Guerrillas
A term first coined by John Robb to describe the global emergence of autonomous warrior-groups capable of organizing and operating through horizontal means and eschewing exterior vertical controls. The existence of "black globalization" characterized by widespread black markets, "open-source platforms" allowing stigmergic learning, and the failure or inability of nation-states to halt or disrupt these environmental factors would allow the formation of autonomous groups capable of operating independently of nation-states. Indeed, John Robb has theorized that the emergence of these groups on a global scale will ultimately destroy globalization as we know it. Global Guerrillas have been described as not only able to operate outside the nation-state systems normal to our understanding of globalization but also as primarily targeting those nation-state systems and globalization operationally. In other words, the horizontal operations and loose interaction of diverse Global Guerrilla warrior-groups would ultimately supplant the nation-state/globalization system.
John Robb has variously referred to Global Guerrilla warfare as being a highly developed 4GW, as emergent 5GW, and as existing outside those labels ("Whether you call these developments 4GW on steroids or the start of a 5th generation, it just doesn't matter."1) His frequent references to William Lind in considering these labels, and in particular his specific citation at the link to the quote given above, places his considerations within the framework of the Generations of Modern Warfare Theory (GMW) rather than in the framework of Gradient Warfare Theory (xGW). However, some xGW theorists have sought to find a place for Global Guerrillas in xGW theory, particularly in 5GW.2 Some xGW theorists have rejected the theory of Global Guerrillas altogether,3 or else have placed Global Guerrillas in the third gradient of warfare, 3GW.4
1 THE CHANGING FACE OF WAR: Into the 5th Generation (5GW) @ GlobalGuerrillas.com
2 'Global Guerrillas' as 5GW Warriors @ Dreaming5GW.com
3 Coherent Gibberish @ tdaxp.com
4 Am I Understanding the Gist of the Global Guerilla Concept? @ Purpleslog.wordpress.com
See: GMW, xGW, Systempunkt
John Robb has variously referred to Global Guerrilla warfare as being a highly developed 4GW, as emergent 5GW, and as existing outside those labels ("Whether you call these developments 4GW on steroids or the start of a 5th generation, it just doesn't matter."1) His frequent references to William Lind in considering these labels, and in particular his specific citation at the link to the quote given above, places his considerations within the framework of the Generations of Modern Warfare Theory (GMW) rather than in the framework of Gradient Warfare Theory (xGW). However, some xGW theorists have sought to find a place for Global Guerrillas in xGW theory, particularly in 5GW.2 Some xGW theorists have rejected the theory of Global Guerrillas altogether,3 or else have placed Global Guerrillas in the third gradient of warfare, 3GW.4
1 THE CHANGING FACE OF WAR: Into the 5th Generation (5GW) @ GlobalGuerrillas.com
2 'Global Guerrillas' as 5GW Warriors @ Dreaming5GW.com
3 Coherent Gibberish @ tdaxp.com
4 Am I Understanding the Gist of the Global Guerilla Concept? @ Purpleslog.wordpress.com
See: GMW, xGW, Systempunkt
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