View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate School Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2008-06 The resurgence of Naxalism: how great a threat to India? Harnetiaux, Keith J. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/10335 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS THE RESURGENCE OF NAXALISM: HOW GREAT A THREAT TO INDIA? by Keith J. Harnetiaux June 2008 Thesis Advisor: Feroz Khan Second Reader: Anshu Chatterjee Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED June 2008 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE The Resurgence of Naxalism: How Great a 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Threat to India? 6. AUTHOR(S) Keith J. Harnetiaux 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943-5000 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING N/A AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited A 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) Of all the current threats to India’s stability and development, the one posed by Naxalism, a Maoist insurrection active in the eastern half of the country for over four decades, is the most overlooked and analytically neglected in Western academic and security circles. This thesis undertakes an historical analysis of the Naxalite movement to assess how great a danger its current iteration truly poses and what the implications might be for India’s continued rise. Soberingly, it finds that the insurgency is indeed stronger and more dangerous today than at any time in the past. Furthermore, while it does not pose an existential threat to the state in the same way as its counterpart in Nepal, it will prove extremely disruptive to India’s further growth and development if not swiftly and effectively countered. New Delhi’s efforts in this regard are so far unimpressive, but it is not too late to act. The United States has a vested interest in the emergence of a strong and stable India, and may be able to help its new ‘strategic partner’ address the challenge of Naxalism’s resurgence. 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES CPI, CPI-Maoist, India, Insurgency, Insurrection, Maoism, Naxalite, Naxalism 141 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY 18. SECURITY 19. SECURITY 20. LIMITATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF THIS CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT REPORT PAGE ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified UU NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 i THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ii Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THE RESURGENCE OF NAXALISM: HOW GREAT A THREAT TO INDIA? Keith J. Harnetiaux Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy B.S., United States Naval Academy, 1997 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES (FAR EAST, SOUTHEAST ASIA, PACIFIC) from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL June 2008 Author: Keith J. Harnetiaux Approved by: Brig. Feroz Khan Thesis Advisor Dr. Anshu Chatterjee Second Reader Dr. Harold Trinkunas Chairman, Department of National Security Affairs iii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iv ABSTRACT Despite its remarkable recent growth and dynamism, India still faces a number of challenges to its internal security and further development. Of these, the threat posed by Naxalism, a Maoist insurrection active in the eastern half of the country for over four decades, is the most overlooked and analytically neglected in Western academic and security circles. In the past seven years, Naxalite activity has grown in scope, breadth, and violence, in a “Red Corridor” stretching from Nepal to Tamil Nadu, and killed or displaced tens of thousands of people. By 2006, the problem was so severe that India’s Prime Minister characterized the insurgency as the greatest internal security threat ever faced by his country. Given India’s bloody history with separatist and communal violence, such a pronouncement is truly startling. This thesis undertakes an historical analysis of the Naxalite movement to assess how great a danger its current iteration truly poses, and what the implications might be for India’s continued rise. Soberingly, it finds that the insurgency is indeed stronger and more dangerous today than at any time in the past. Furthermore, while it does not pose an existential threat to the state in the same way as its counterpart in Nepal, it will prove extremely disruptive to India’s further growth and development if not swiftly and effectively countered. New Delhi’s efforts in this regard are so far unimpressive, but it is not too late to act. The United States has a vested interest in the emergence of a strong and stable India, and may be able to help its new “strategic partner” address the challenge of Naxalism’s resurgence. v THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK vi TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1 A. PURPOSE.........................................................................................................1 B. IMPORTANCE................................................................................................1 C. LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................2 D. METHODOLOGY AND SOURCES.............................................................8 E. TERMINOLOGY ISSUES .............................................................................9 II. THE ORGANIZATIONAL PERIOD (1967–1972) ................................................11 A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................11 B. HISTORICAL CONTEXT ...........................................................................14 1. Political Developments.......................................................................14 2. Economic Developments....................................................................16 3. Social Developments ..........................................................................18 C. INTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NAXALITE INSURGENCY...............................................................................................20 1. Organization and Leadership ...........................................................20 2. Strategy and Tactics ..........................................................................22 3. Naxalite Activity.................................................................................25 D. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE......................................................................28 1. Center Responses ...............................................................................28 2. State Responses ..................................................................................29 E. CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................32 III. THE FRAGMENTARY PERIOD (1972-1991).......................................................35 A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................35 B. HISTORICAL CONTEXT ...........................................................................36 1. Political Developments.......................................................................36 2. Economic Developments....................................................................38 3. Social Developments ..........................................................................40 C. INTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NAXALITE INSURGENCY...............................................................................................42 1. Organization and Leadership ...........................................................42 2. Strategy and Tactics ..........................................................................45 3. Naxalite Activity.................................................................................47 D. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE......................................................................51 1. Center Responses ...............................................................................51 2. State Responses ..................................................................................52