As the author makes clear, every book has a history; Guerrilla Warfare is no exception. Together with its sequel Terrorism (and two companion readers) it was part of a wider study: to give a critical interpretation of guerrilla and terrorism theory and practice throughout history. It did not aim at providing a general theory of political violence, nor did it give instructions on how to conduct guerrilla warfare and terrorist operations. Its aim remains to bring about greater semantic and analytic clarity, and to do so at psychological as well as political levels.

Originally published: Guerrilla. Boston : Little, Brown, c1976.

Partisans in history -- Small wars and big armies -- The origins of guerrilla doctrin -- The twentieth century (I): between two world wars -- The twentieth century (II): partisans against Hitler -- The twentieth century (III): China and Vietnam -- National liberation and revolutionary war -- Guerrilla doctrine today -- A summing up.