Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader

American Counterinsurgency: Human Science and the Human Terrain

by Roberto J. Gonzalez (Author)
2.3 out of 5 stars 7 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0979405747
ISBN-10: 0979405742
Why is ISBN important?
ISBN
This bar-code number lets you verify that you're getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. The 13-digit and 10-digit formats both work.
Scan an ISBN with your phone
Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Buy used On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
$4.12 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
Buy new On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
$10.06 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
More Buying Choices
35 New from $8.66 35 Used from $4.11
70 used & new from $4.11
See All Buying Options
Free Two-Day Shipping for College Students with Amazon Student Free%20Two-Day%20Shipping%20for%20College%20Students%20with%20Amazon%20Student

The Secret War: Spies, Ciphers, and Guerrillas, 1939-1945 by Max Hastings
The Secret War
The popular new release from Max Hastings. Learn more | See author page
$10.06 FREE Shipping on orders with at least $25 of books. Only 1 left in stock (more on the way). Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Frequently Bought Together

  • American Counterinsurgency: Human Science and the Human Terrain
  • +
  • Weaponizing Anthropology: Social Science in Service of the Militarized State (Counterpunch)
  • +
  • Human Terrain Teams: An Organizational Innovation for Sociocultural Knowledge in Irregular Warfare
Total price: $45.96
Buy the selected items together

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A timely, hard-hitting critique of Human Terrain Systems and the dangers of social science subservient to counterinsurgency."—Counterpunch
(Counterpunch 2009-02-03)

"González strongly critiques the human terrain concept in its historical and contemporary contexts."—Inside Higher Ed
(Inside Higher Ed 2009-01-29)

About the Author

Roberto J. González is associate professor of anthropology at San Jose State University. He is author of Zapotec Science: Farming and Food in the Northern Sierra of Oaxaca and editor of Anthropologists in the Public Sphere: Speaking Out on War, Peace, and American Power.
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE
China
Engineering & Transportation Books
Discover books for all types of engineers, auto enthusiasts, and much more. Learn more

Product Details

  • Paperback: 134 pages
  • Publisher: Prickly Paradigm Press (February 15, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0979405742
  • ISBN-13: 978-0979405747
  • Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.4 x 7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #813,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starsDeeply disappointing
By E. M. Van Court VINE VOICE on March 6, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments."
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Between the title, the blurbs, and the creditentials of the author, I expected an academically rigorous, well structured, and thoughtful discussion of counterinsurgency (especially as practiced by the U.S. in the Iraq and Afghanistan), a carefully laid out and documented critique of the Human Terrain System using reliable and documented sources, and substantive, practical, and viable options for a way forward in the near term in the current conflicts and for the long term in national policy and strategy.

I was disappointed in every instance.

Note to self: if an author includes the caveat "If at times my words carry traces of bitterness, it is unintentional" in the preface, set the book down and walk away. To be fair, I didn't notice bitterness, on the other hand, the ceaseless venom directed at the U.S. military might have masked it. Every single reference to the U.S. military was tagged with negative or derisive adjectives.

The entire book was devoid of useful definitions of any of the critical terms like 'insurgency', 'counterinsurgency', 'propaganda', etc. The author assumes that the reader holds a common definition and a common conceptual value in every instance.

Regarding insurgency and counterinsurgency, the author clearly assumes that any insurgent or revolutionary anywhere is on the side of angels. This is either incredibly naive or disingenuous. Nowhere in the entire volume did I see a single, practical idea for reducing violence and promoting Iraqi, Afghan, or any other nation's self-determination, despite grand statements about how the U.S.Read more ›
5 Comments 23 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
3.0 out of 5 starsDecent and Short
By A. Russell on August 15, 2011
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I was writing my thesis on the relationship between the intelligence community and anthropology, so I was basically grabbing any literature I could. The work is good and to the point, albeit you can't go into it thinking it's going to be a balanced argument. There are a few times he comes off as heavy-handed, but it is all well researched and structured.
Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsInformative
By Robertson Allen on June 13, 2009
Format: Paperback
This book has received low markings because individuals directly involved in what Gonzalez is critiquing have given it low markings. This is a clearly polarized issue, and to see the polarized comments and ratings (thus far) points to the fact that Gonzalez has touched upon something that is highly relevant and salient. I would like to see what someone who isn't directly or indirectly involved in HTS or anthropology thinks about this book. As an anthropologist who studies the US military and who has also worked with individuals in the military (on a non-adversarial basis I might add), I, for one, think that this book adds useful information to an important topic.
1 Comment 12 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsA timely critical overview of Human Terrain
By David Price on May 23, 2009
Format: Paperback
Roberto González's critique of Human Terrain Systems should be carefully read by all who want to understand the dangers facing America as political and military policymakers increasingly claiming that counterinsurgency can bring victory in Afghanistan and Iraq. González details the political, ethical and practical problems inherent infecting the Human Terrain program as well as the problems facing strategies reliant on anthropologically based counterinsurgency. This is an excellent book to use in the classroom as students are easily drawn into discussions of the ethical, political and strategic issues at the heart of the Human Terrain project.
1 Comment 7 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

American Counterinsurgency: Human Science and the Human Terrain
Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more
This item: American Counterinsurgency: Human Science and the Human Terrain
Set up a giveaway

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.