Naval Postgraduate School

Countermobilization: Unconventional Social Warfare Naval Postgraduate School

The purpose of this book is to identify and understand the factors associated with effective countermobilization. Understanding such factors can help a state develop a sponsored countermovement to protect its national interests against violent extremist movements (VEMs). In addition, this study will cover whether countermobilization is a viable strategy for countering VEMs. It will address defining traits of a countermovement that can disrupt, destabilize, deteriorate or invalidate a targeted movement. The utility of countermobilization stems in part from the need to adopt strategies that limit a state?s vulnerabilities in a complex warfare environment. Furthermore, the study of countermobilization may highlight a more efficient way to militarily intervene against VEMs by utilizing a smaller special operations forces (SOF) footprint, within certain parameters, rather than a larger conventional force.