Hearts and Minds ─ A People's History of Counterinsurgency

Since 2006, when the U.S. Army published its new field manual on counterinsurgency (the battle for "hearts and minds"), this guiding doctrine of the U.S. military establishment continues to command broad support from liberals and conservatives alike.

The first book of its kind, Hearts and Minds retells the history of counterinsurgency from the perspective of the populations whose hearts and minds have been fought over since the end of World War II. With contributions from economists, anthropologists, social historians, and journalists, the book examines key examples of counterinsurgency campaigns in Malaya, the Philippines, Vietnam, El Salvador, Iraq, and Afghanistan—detailing not only the real sources of discontent behind the insurgencies but also the negative impact of supposedly benevolent counterinsurgency programs on the everyday lives of the people in these regions. A wealth of primary sources and gripping documentary photographs give readers a rare glimpse into the experiences of the many civilians—children, mothers, workers—caught in the conflicts. A historical primer in its own right, Hearts and Minds will also be a key resource for anyone engaged in the vital contemporary debates over U.S. military policy.

Hannah Gurman is an assistant professor at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She writes on the politics, economics, and culture of U.S. diplomacy and military conflict for Salon, the Huffington Post, and Foreign Policy in Focus, among other publications. She is the author of The Dissent Papers: The Voices of Diplomats in the Cold War and Beyond. She lives in New York City.