Insurgencies have been a nuisance for modern armies to deal with for centuries and recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland supports that claim. Counterinsurgency theories present different solutions for the same problems and old proven theories get challenged by modern ones. Researchers therefore differ in their opinions whether the classical proven theories are still relevant to guide modern counterinsurgency. A lot of modern counterinsurgency doctrines are still heavily based on these classical theories which leads to the purpose of this study, to investigate if an old theory still can explain the outcome of modern counterinsurgency operations. A fitting theory for this goal is the British theorist Thompsons which’s influence still can be observed in modern counterinsurgency doctrines.
The study’s findings indicate that an old theory such as Thompsons still contributes to explain the outcome of modern counterinsurgency operations. The analysis illuminates that the greater extent of observance according to the principles of the theory will result in a more successful counterinsurgency overall. Though further research is required to consolidate these affirmations.