In this essay for The New Republic, Elliot Ackerman analyzes the Islamic State’s rapid advance across Iraq through the lens of insurgency theory and military strategy.
Writing as ISIS threatened Mosul Dam, Sinjar, Erbil, and Baghdad, Ackerman argues that the group should not be understood only as a terrorist organization, but as a political and military movement with a long-term strategy.
ISIS, Mao, and Insurgency Strategy
Ackerman compares the Islamic State’s campaign to Mao Zedong’s three-phase model of guerrilla warfare, from propaganda and insurgency to conventional attacks and territorial control.
Iraq, Syria, and the Caliphate
The essay traces ISIS’s evolution from Al Qaeda in Iraq to the declaration of a caliphate under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, connecting events in Iraq and Syria to broader regional instability.
Understanding the Enemy
At its center, the piece argues that defeating ISIS requires first understanding its political goals, strategic patience, and military logic.