Guerrilla Warfare

by Ernesto Che Guevara

Overview

Written immediately after the Cuban Revolution and first published in 1961, Guerrilla Warfare soon became a how-to manual for legions of guerrilla fighters around the world-from Latin America to Africa and Asia. In this revolutionary primer, Che focuses on the general principles of guerrilla warfare, the guerrilla "band," the organization of the guerrilla front, and strategies for preserving and defending power once it has been won. The book covers broad topics-guerrilla strategy and tactics; propaganda, training, and indoctrination; and the role of women-and more specific issues like medical problems, supplies, and "sabotage." Che's epilogue, written a year after "the culmination of the long armed civil struggle by the Cuban people," includes his analysis of the Cuban situation at the time and predictions for the country's future.

Both historical document and impassioned treatise, Guerrilla Warfare was intended as a guide to realizing change when political opposition and legal civil struggle against totalitarianism are inadequate. In that sense, it provides a timeless window into revolutionary thinking today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607965688
Publisher:	Beta Nu Publishing
Publication date:	03/18/2013
Pages:	154
Sales rank:	437,928
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Ernesto Che Guevara (1928–1967) was born in Rosario, Argentina, and became attracted to Marxist theory after witnessing the conditions in South America as a young medical student. He went on to serve as a military advisor to Fidel Castro and as guerrilla commander against Batista forces during the Cuban Revolution. After Castro’s insurgent victory, he served in various posts but left the Cuban government to take the ideas of the Cuban revolution around the world. He later took part in guerrilla action in Bolivia, where he was executed by government forces. Nearly a half century after his death, Che remains a potent revolutionary and cultural figure.

Table of Contents

Part 1 I Introduction—Guerrilla Warfare, Revolutionary Theory, and Revolutionary Movements in Latin America Part 2 II Che on Guerrilla Warfare Chapter 3 Guerrilla Warfare (1960) Chapter 4 "Guerrilla Warfare: A Method" (1963) Chapter 5 "Message to the Tricontinental" (1967) Part 6 III Case Studies of Guerrilla Movements and Political Change Chapter 7 Guatemala Chapter 8 Venezuela Chapter 9 Colombia Chapter 10 Peru Chapter 11 Bolivia Chapter 12 Nicaragua Chapter 13 El Salvador Part 14 Postscript—Guerrilla Warfare into the 1990s

Editorial Reviews

Che Guevara's book was originally published in 1960, the written output of a revolutionary who had proved his talents in the real world. His text includes sections on propaganda, sabotage, the role of the woman, and the guerilla fighter as social reformer, and an epilogue in which he analyzes the events leading to the Cuban Revolution of 1959 and the possible future of revolutionary ideals in the Americas. Che's book, accompanied by introductory matter and case studies by Brian Loveman and Thomas M. Davies, Jr., was published by U. of Nebraska Press in 1985; in this third edition, the introduction and case studies have been revised and updated and contain new perspectives on Che's life and political impact, the situation in Latin America, the United States' reaction to both, and the application of Che's theories on revolution to the political situation in seven Latin American countries from the 1960s to the present. Paper edition (unseen), $21.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

A fine document describing the struggles in seven South American countries, this remains a useful tool in today's world.

The Bookwatch

This interesting book is more than a mere translation of Che Guevara's handbook on how to be a guerrilla fighter. Rather, the translation of Guevara's historic work, Guerrilla Warfare, and two of his later pieces, 'Guerrilla Warfare: A Method" and "Message to the Tricontinental," are nestled between an informative and well-developed introduction and essays describing the struggles in seven South American countries whose guerrilla movements were inspired by Che Guevara's writings and beliefs. . . . This work is quite useful for anyone who desires to understand the struggles occurring around the world today.

Journal Of International Law and Politics

Aside from Che's own compelling rhetoric, the case histories demonstrate Che's influence and the application of his analysis in very specific terms. . . . Those who teach courses on the Third World or on the history of Latin America since World War II should welcome this volume.

Hispanic American Historical Review

Che's insights are just as alive today as they were when he first wrote them down in 1960.

Latin America In Books

For teaching purposes this volume is extremely worthwhile. The evaluation of guerrilla experiences is on the whole judicious, the prose highly readable, and the package coherent.

Journal Of Latin American Studies

For teaching purposes this volume is extremely worthwhile. The evaluation of guerrilla experiences is on the whole judicious, the prose highly readable, and the package coherent.

Journal of Latin American Studies