Discussion on MWI Podcast: Exploring the Principle and Implementation of Resistance
In a thought-provoking podcast episode, originally released in 2021, John Amble speaks to Sandor Fabian, a former officer in the Hungarian military's special operations forces, who has extensively researched the concept of resistance as an approach to national defense.
Sandor Fabian argues that resistance is the most viable means of defense for small states, such as the Baltics, when faced with the threat of a larger, aggressive neighbour like Russia. He advocates for a resistance-oriented national defense strategy that emphasises comprehensive societal resistance, asymmetric tactics, international alliances, and political, cultural, and psychological resistance to occupation.
This strategy departs from traditional military defense by involving the whole population in resilience and deterrence. It also includes the development of partisan or guerrilla warfare capabilities to impose costs and delays on a larger invading force. The strategy also encourages the preparation for conflict even without immediate external military support.
The Baltics, with their geographic vulnerability and history, are particularly relevant to this discussion. Fabian urges a strategy that integrates civil resistance with military preparations.
The full episode of this insightful podcast can be listened to below. If you find the discussion as enlightening as we do, we encourage you to leave a rating or review. The MWI Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favourite podcast app.
Sharing options for this article are provided for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, and print. We appreciate your support and engagement. Embracing resistance as a strategic approach would require changes in force structure, training, equipment, doctrine, and more, but as Fabian's research suggests, it could be a game-changer for small states facing aggressive neighbours.
Image credit: Spc. Uriel Ramirez, US Army.
- Sandor Fabian suggests that small states like the Baltics, confronted by a larger, aggressive neighbor such as Russia, should adopt a resistance-oriented national defense strategy, which involves comprehensive societal resistance, asymmetric tactics, international alliances, and political, cultural, and psychological resistance to occupation.
- Unlike traditional military defense, this strategy also involves the whole population in resilience and deterrence, as well as the development of partisan or guerrilla warfare capabilities to impose costs and delays on a larger invading force.
- While this approach would necessitate changes in force structure, training, equipment, doctrine, and more, Fabian argues that it could be a game-changer for small states facing aggressive neighbors,such as in war-and-conflicts,politics, and general-news.
