Why can attacks on civilians alienate people who might otherwise support guerrillas?

Attacks on civilians can alienate a population that might otherwise support a guerrilla movement because such actions undermine the essential bond between the insurgents and the people. Successful guerrilla warfare relies heavily on popular support to provide critical resources, including food, shelter, medical aid, intelligence, and recruits.12

When guerrillas resort to terrorist tactics—such as the murder of village leaders, kidnapping, or indiscriminate violence—they often destroy the trust and sympathy required to maintain this base of support. These actions can cause the populace to fear both the guerrillas and the defending government, leading civilians to cooperate with whichever side currently holds control rather than actively supporting the insurgent cause. Furthermore, if a government responds to these tactics with its own force, the resulting environment of fear and instability can cause the population's loyalty to waver, ultimately weakening the movement's ability to sustain a protracted struggle. History has shown that movements which forfeit popular support through barbarous or rapacious behavior often face failure, as they lose the sanctuary and local cooperation necessary for their survival.32