TY - JOUR
T1 - Draining the Sea with Discretion
T2 - Force Integration and Civilian Displacement during South Korean Counter-insurgency Operations, 1948-1953
AU - Paik, Seung Joon
AU - Park, Soul
PY - 2020/12/11
Y1 - 2020/12/11
N2 - This paper analyses the dynamics of violence during civilian displacement operations. Specifically, we argue that the integration of security forces–solid command structure, monitoring of troops, and the quality of personnel–influences not only the military performance but also the level of civilian costs. That is, a highly integrated army can commit soldiers to displacement operations while minimising violence. When conducted by a partially integrated army, however, displacement operations are at risk of mass killing, pushing soldiers to remove civilians without sophisticated control. Our qualitative analysis of three major counter-guerrilla operations in South Korea provides support for our thesis.
AB - This paper analyses the dynamics of violence during civilian displacement operations. Specifically, we argue that the integration of security forces–solid command structure, monitoring of troops, and the quality of personnel–influences not only the military performance but also the level of civilian costs. That is, a highly integrated army can commit soldiers to displacement operations while minimising violence. When conducted by a partially integrated army, however, displacement operations are at risk of mass killing, pushing soldiers to remove civilians without sophisticated control. Our qualitative analysis of three major counter-guerrilla operations in South Korea provides support for our thesis.
KW - civilian displacement
KW - draining-the-sea tactic
KW - internal cohesion
KW - Korean counter-insurgency (COIN)
KW - principal-agent problem
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103743188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/01402390.2020.1833188
DO - 10.1080/01402390.2020.1833188
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85103743188
JO - Journal of Strategic Studies
JF - Journal of Strategic Studies
SN - 0140-2390
ER -