Insurgency

One of the classes I'm taking this semester is a class on insurgency. The overarching theme of the class is what factors contribute to the rise of insurgency movements--from the Jewish revolt against the Romans in the first century to the Iraqi insurgency in Fallujah--and what can be done to counter insurgency movements. It is a very fascinating class, and I'm glad I decided to take this class.

This past week (when I wasn't stressing over my nuclear proliferation paper that was due yesterday), I read one book and skimmed another that dealt the role economics plays in insurgency movements. It is generally accepted that insurgents gain momentum in places with abject poverty. I'm not convinced that abject poverty alone is the cause of all insurgency movements (there was a well-known study done by a University of Chicago professor who analyzed data of every terrorist activity in the past three decades and more than 75% of them were middle-class men). But I do believe there is an association between poverty and insurgency. One of the books (the one I read) talked about the "bottom billion" who have missed the boat of rapid globalization and are trapped in poverty that will be really hard for them to get out of without the assistance of the developed world and good governance. The other book (the one I skimmed) talked about how foreign aid doled out by the developed world is not doing much to solve the issue of poverty and is, in fact, perpetuating it in many regions of the world. If you are interested in international affairs, international development, public policy, human rights, etc., I strongly urge you to pick up either or both these books. Or if you have free time and want a good read, you should too.

That being said, this class has also given me the opportunity to research about a particular insurgency that I have personal attachment to. In 2007, I went on a summer trip to the western part of China, home of ethnic minority groups such as the Uyghers and Hui people groups. Previous to that trip, I had never heard of them, and so when I went, it was fascinating to learn about their culture and history (I admit it. I'm a nerd).The Uygher people have been the object of many oppressive policies throughout much of its history. They've been in the news in and out throughout the latter part of the 20th century, most notably by the atrocities committed against them by Mao and the Cultural Revolution. Independence movements have been ferocious at times, and now the region is considered to be a hotbed of rising terrorism, particularly troublesome with Afghanistan sharing part of its border. With the U.S.'s war on terror fully operational, the Chinese government saw that as a carte blanche to crack down on these so-called terrorists/separatists. There are many Uyghers being held in Guantanomo Bay as a result of the war on terror.

All this being said, reading up on material on the Uyghers and separatist movements in XinJiang has been making me nostalgic about that trip. I've talked to some friends I went with, and all the more, it makes me want to make another trip out there. But somehow, I don't think that'll be possible, at least not anytime soon. But in the end, I'm remembering to keep that people group in prayer, a people group lost without hope.