Starting an insurgency is extremely risky because, in the process of "rising up," the status quo is contested and the state's legitimacy to wield power is directly challenged, often violently, thereby further increasing the risk and the stakes of failure. An insurgency is also risky because it usually begins from a position of relative weakness. Insurgencies almost always start as a small movement with limited resources, while the state is usually well-organized with a Weberian monopoly on the legitimate use of force through a vast security and military apparatus. As such, the task before an insurgent individual or group is immense, the risks are many, and the likelihood of victory is low. Therefore, mitigating the risk in "rising up" is vitally important for any insurgency to succeed.
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