U.S. Government counterinsurgency guide • JANUARY 2009 17
CHAPTER TWO:
COMPONENTS OF COIN STRATEGY
CONTROL
ECONOMIC
SECURITY
IN
FO
RMATIO
N
POLITICAL
STRATEGY
Control. The Information,
Security and Development
components combine within
the political strategy to enable
the affected government to
control its environment, such
that the population will, in the
long run, support it rather
than the insurgents.
The Information Component.
Information (acquiring knowledge
and exerting influence) is the
base component for all other
activities, providing the linkages
that allow discrete functional
elements to cooperate as an
integrated whole.
The Security Component.
Providing physical security
against insurgent violence,
though often imperative, is only
one step in progressing towards
‘Human Security’ which also
encompasses the maintenance
of laws, human rights, freedom
to conduct economic activity,
public safety and health.
The Economic and Development
Component. This includes immediate
humanitarian relief and the provision
of essential services, as well as
longer-term programs to develop the
infrastructure and capacity for
legitimate agricultural, industrial,
educational, medical, commercial
and governmental activities.
Political strategy. This is the key
function in a COIN effort,
providing a framework of political
reconciliation, genuine reform,
popular mobilization and
governmental capacity-building
around which all other programs
and activities are organized.
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
COUNTERINSURGENCY
Comprehensive Approach
to Counterinsurgency
COIN...Yes!
U.S. Government counterinsurgency guide • JANUARY 2009 17 CHAPTER TWO: COMPONENTS OF COIN STRATEGY CONTROL ECONOMIC SECURITY IN FO RMATIO N POLITICAL STRATEGY Control. The Information, Security and Development components combine within the political strategy to enable the affected government to control its environment, such that the population will, in the long run, support it rather than the insurgents. The Information Component. Information (acquiring knowledge and exerting influence) is the base component for all other activities, providing the linkages that allow discrete functional elements to cooperate as an integrated whole. The Security Component. Providing physical security against insurgent violence, though often imperative, is only one step in progressing towards ‘Human Security’ which also encompasses the maintenance of laws, human rights, freedom to conduct economic activity, public safety and health. The Economic and Development Component. This includes immediate humanitarian relief and the provision of essential services, as well as longer-term programs to develop the infrastructure and capacity for legitimate agricultural, industrial, educational, medical, commercial and governmental activities. Political strategy. This is the key function in a COIN effort, providing a framework of political reconciliation, genuine reform, popular mobilization and governmental capacity-building around which all other programs and activities are organized. COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO COUNTERINSURGENCY Comprehensive Approach to Counterinsurgency