Leveraging Freedoms: A Potential Resource for Elite Military Units
In the realm of irregular warfare, the concept of weaponizing rights has emerged as a powerful tool for groups seeking to advance their agendas. This strategic approach, explored in depth by Dr. Clifford Bob in his 2019 book "Rights as Weapons: Instruments of Conflict, Tools of Power", reveals that rights are not merely shields for protection, but can also serve as swords that strategically influence power dynamics.
Dr. Bob's research demonstrates that rights become weapons when used tactically to challenge, pressure, or delegitimize opponents in conflicts where conventional military force alone may be insufficient or inappropriate. This could include insurgents, civil society groups, or weak states using human rights discourse to gain international support, compel intervention, or constrain adversaries’ freedom of action. Similarly, in strategic competition, states or non-state actors might use rights rhetoric to undermine opponents’ moral authority or justify their own policies.
The recent demonstrations in Iran, following the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police in September, provide a poignant example of this phenomenon. The right not to wear a hijab has garnered international support and mobilized the largest social movement in Iran since the 1979 revolution. This right, serving as a powerful weapon for the protestors, has challenged the authority of the government and put pressure on its moral standing.
Historically, rights have been used as means or ways to achieve objectives in greater struggles for power. The author's research thesis, analysing the weaponization of rights during the Russian revolution from 1893 to 1917, offers valuable insights into this historical context.
In the modern context, this approach reveals that rights are not confined to traditional warfare but are embedded in a contest for influence, legitimacy, and control. They shape conflicts through legal, moral, and symbolic means, extending beyond the battlefield and into legal forums, media, and international institutions.
For US Army special operations forces (ARSOF), this understanding offers an innovative option to gain an advantage in irregular warfare and strategic competition. Major Joseph Bedingfield, an active duty US Army civil affairs officer, holds a master of military art and science as a member of the Art of War Scholars program from the US Army Command and General Staff College, and has served with various deployments to the Middle East and Europe. His expertise in this area is invaluable in navigating the complexities of modern warfare.
The Irregular Warfare Initiative, which generates written content and podcasts, coordinates events, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows, provides a platform for further exploration of these concepts. The Initiative has a new online home at irregularwarfare.org.
It is important to note that the views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense. The image credit for this article is PersianDutchNetwork.
As the world continues to grapple with complex and evolving conflicts, the strategic weaponization of rights will undoubtedly remain a crucial factor in shaping the course of these struggles.
In the realm of irregular warfare, rights serve not only as protective shields but also as tactical swords that influence power dynamics.(Dr. Bob's research)
In conflicts, rights can be weaponized to challenge, pressure, or delegitimize opponents.(Dr. Bob's research)
The right not to wear a hijab, used in Iran's recent demonstrations, demonstrates how rights can be powerful weapons against authorities.(poignant example in the text)
For US Army special operations forces (ARSOF), understanding the strategic weaponization of rights offers a valuable option in irregular warfare and strategic competition.(implication for ARSOF)
