Dissertation on development of insurgent warfare

Captain Antti Paronen's doctoral dissertation will be held at the National Defence University on Thursday 19 May 2016. It is a dissertation in military theory and the dissertation will take place in Santahamina House, in the Itälinnake Auditorium, from 10.00 onwards.

The custos will be Major General (ret.) Vesa Tynkkynen, a professor from the National Defence University. The opponents will be Marko Palokangas, professor of military theory at the National Defence University, and PhD (political science) Christian Jokinen.

The topic of the dissertation is "The global Jihadist Movement as Developer of the Insurgent Art of Warfare".  As the name indicates, the thesis focuses on the development of insurgent warfare. Paronen examines the strategic thinking apparent in the global Jihadist movement and compares it to earlier strategies used in classical insurgent war.

The comparison demonstrates that today’s Jihadist movement can be seen to have expanded its area of operation beyond the individual nation state and that it has made its battle rhythm its ideology and that it embraces the dispersed organisation that it has as the force that keeps it going. 

Paronen's dissertation can be downloaded online from the National Defence University's Doria publication archive (www.doria.fi) from 5 May onwards.

Captain Antti Paronen completed his master's studies in military science in 2007. He served in Karelia Brigade 2007-2009 and 2010-2013. He has also served in the Finnish military crisis management force in Afghanistan 2009-2010. He began working in the National Defence University in 2013. Captain Paronen began his doctoral studies in military science in 2010.

Welcome to the public examination

The dissertation is open to the general public. Because the event will take place in a restricted military area, we kindly ask that you register beforehand using the following link www.lyyti.in/Kapteeni_Antti_Parosen_vaitostilaisuus_2854. The registration link is open until Monday 16 May 14.00. You must show ID at the garrison gates.

For more information:

Captain Antti Paronen, tel. 00 358 (0)299 530 627 or [email protected]
For more information on the arrangements of the day, please contact Public Information Officer Suvi Manelius, tel. 00 358 (0)299 530 121 or [email protected]