Creating the Third Force: U.S. Sponsored Low Intensity Conflict in the Philippines" refers to a key concept in Walden Bello's analysis of U.S. counterinsurgency strategy, particularly during the Cold War, focusing on fostering a moderate, reformist "Third Force" (like Ramon Magsaysay) to undercut leftist insurgencies like the Hukbalahap and the New People's Army (NPA) by offering a non-communist, populist alternative, using military aid and political tactics to shape Philippine politics and conflict. This strategy, detailed in Bello's work, highlights how the U.S. used the Philippines as a testing ground for Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) tactics, blending military support with social and political programs to control revolutionary movements