War

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{{cquote|War is the continuation of [[politics]] by other means.<ref>http://www.clausewitz.com/CWZHOME/ECHEVAR/ECHJFQ.htm</ref>|||Carl von Clausewitz}}
 
{{cquote|War is the continuation of [[politics]] by other means.<ref>http://www.clausewitz.com/CWZHOME/ECHEVAR/ECHJFQ.htm</ref>|||Carl von Clausewitz}}
  
Throughout history, whenever a dispute could not be settled peacefully, violence broke out.  When enough people were on each side of the violence, it is called a '''war'''.  Many efforts have been made to either prevent all wars<ref>The creation of the [[United Nations]] was supposed to effect this, and [[deterrence]] in theory also serves this goal.</ref> or to mitigate the effects of war.<ref>The [[Roman Catholic Church]] passed many laws in the Middle Ages to limit the scope of wars, and many treaties have been signed since to that effect.</ref> However, wars still occur.
+
Throughout history, whenever a dispute could not be settled peacefully, violence broke out.  When enough people were on each side of the violence, it is called a '''war'''.  Many efforts have been made to either prevent all wars<ref>The creation of the [[United Nations]] was supposed to effect this, and [[deterrence]] in theory also serves this goal.</ref> or to mitigate the effects of war.<ref>The [[Roman Catholic Church]] passed many laws in the Middle Ages to limit the scope of wars, and many treaties have been signed since to that effect.</ref> They still occur frequently, although most of the violence has nowadays shifted to the sub-state level.
  
 
==Definition==
 
==Definition==
 
Technically, a war is a large-scale conflict between two groups.  However, the exact scale of deaths needed to call something a war is constantly under debate.  There are several broad types of wars.
 
Technically, a war is a large-scale conflict between two groups.  However, the exact scale of deaths needed to call something a war is constantly under debate.  There are several broad types of wars.
  
===National war===
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===International war===
A national war is a traditional war fought between the armies of two or more [[state]]s. While irregulars and guerrillas<ref>For example, in Norway and France during [[World War II]] there were strong Resistance movements, but overall the Allies and the Axis directed the wars.</ref> may play a part in such wars, the states are the ones in control.
+
Traditionally, wars are fought between the armies of two or more sovereign [[state]]s. While irregulars and guerrillas may play a part in such wars, the states are the ones in control. <ref>For example, in Norway and France during [[World War II]] there were strong Resistance movements, but overall the Allies and the Axis directed the wars.</ref> Such wars are, at least in principle, governed by international law (most notably the [[Geneva convention]]), and explicitly discouraged by institutions such as the [[united Nations]]. Hostilities were usually preceded by formal declarations of war, but this practice has fallen out of favor - for example, neither the [[Afghanistan War]] nor the [[Iraq War]] were ever officially declared. This might be due to PR concerns, since these wars were supposed to be directed only against small elites in charge of the states, but not against the people themselves. The latter are, of course, still the ones who end up paying most of the blood toll for military interventions.  
  
 
===Civil war===
 
===Civil war===
A [[civil war]] is when factions within one nation fight for control. They are usually more dangerous and bloody, as there is often nowhere to retreat in a civil war, and they are usually fought with far greater emotion, so more death and brutality come from them.
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A [[civil war]] describes a situation in which factions within one nation fight for control. This covers armed insurrections against the government, as well as organized violence between groups that the state is unable to stop. In both cases, civil wars can turn into international conflicts when outside powers are prompted to intervene. Civil wars are often extremely bloody affairs, because they blur the line between soldiers and civilians. Sometimes, one or more of the factions involved also wage all-out campaigns of [[genocide]] or ethnic cleansing, in which civiians become targets rather than "collateral damage".  
  
 
===Revolutionary war===
 
===Revolutionary war===
Wars of revolution are also usually fought on a country's own territory. Their purpose is to overthrow the existing government structure and replace it with something the revolutionaries think will better serve the people.  There are basically two kinds - in one, usually called a war of independence, a country or territory seeks to liberate itself from a colonial or imperial power; in the other, the goal is to overthrow the country's existing independent government.
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Wars of revolution are also usually confined to a single country's territory. Their purpose is to overthrow the existing government structure and replace it with something the revolutionaries think will better serve the people.  There are basically two kinds - in one, usually called a war of independence, a country or territory seeks to liberate itself from a colonial or imperial power; in the other, the goal is to overthrow the country's existing independent government.Examples of the former include the [[American Revolution|American War of Independence]] against England, and the Algerian one against France.  The latter include the French, Russian, and Cuban revolutions. As with most wars, the "legitimacy" of the revolutionaries is definitely in the eye of the beholder - one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.
 
+
Examples of the former include the [[American Revolution|American War of Independence]] against England, and the Algerian one against France.  The latter include the French, Russian, and Cuban revolutions.
+
 
+
As with most wars, the "legitimacy" is definitely in the eye of the beholder - one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.
+
  
 
===Religious war===
 
===Religious war===
Religious wars are usually civil wars, though they can also be national wars.  A religious war is one where the motivation behind the war is specifically religious. The most well-known religious wars were those between the European states and the Islamic empire during the Crusades, or between the Protestant and Catholics sections of [[Germany]] during the 30 Years War. Until the 21st century, it seemed that religious wars were on the decline, but many see current [[United States]] actions against Iraq and Afghanistan in that light.
+
Religious wars are usually civil wars, though they can also be international wars.  A religious war is one where the primary motivation behind the war is specifically religious. The most well-known religious wars were those between the European states and the Islamic empire during the Crusades, or between the Protestant and Catholics sections of [[Germany]] during the 30 Years War. Until the 21st century, it seemed that religious wars were on the decline, but many see current [[United States|US]] actions against Iraq and Afghanistan in that light.
  
 
===Proxy war===
 
===Proxy war===
Proxy wars, which became more common during the [[Cold War]], are typically local civil wars where two major powers are backing the combative factions. The best examples of this were Korea and Vietnam.  However, proxy national wars also took place, such as the 1980's war between Ethiopia and Somalia. A proxy war carries a number of benefits:
+
Proxy wars, which became more common during the [[Cold War]], are typically local civil wars or wars between smaller nation states in which major powers are backing one or more of the combative factions to further their own ends, but do not clash with each other directly. The Arab-Israeli conflict used to be cast in this light during the 1960s and 70s, and Soviet support for North Vietnam or American support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan are also prominent examples. Both of the latter cases are examples where one side was fighting a proxy war, while its primary opponent was engaged directly. A proxy war carries a number of benefits:
 +
 
 
* Someone else is providing a significant portion of the armed forces, thus lessening casualties for the external parties. In some cases interested parties may supply material support and training while refraining from providing combat personnel, such as the case of America's support for the Mujahideen in their efforts to counter the Soviet invasion of [[Afghanistan]].
 
* Someone else is providing a significant portion of the armed forces, thus lessening casualties for the external parties. In some cases interested parties may supply material support and training while refraining from providing combat personnel, such as the case of America's support for the Mujahideen in their efforts to counter the Soviet invasion of [[Afghanistan]].
* An increased sphere of influence - should the war be a successful one.
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* An increased sphere of influence - should the war be a successful one.  
* Large scale war is financially expensive and lots of people tend to die when large industrial nations begin exchanging nukes.
+
* Large scale war between major powers breeds the danger of escalation, including the threat of nuclear war.
* Fighting in one's own country tends to leave things in a bit of a mess, so it's preferable to have the fighting taking place elsewhere.
+
* Fighting in one's own country tends to leave things in a bit of a mess, so it's preferable to have the fighting take place elsewhere.
  
However, relying on proxies can also be very messy, since they're not really under your control. They often do things you'd rather they didn't (like kill innocent people, or start wars at inopportune times.) It is also very easy for something to start as a proxy war, and to eventually draw the superpower in as well. The US, for instance, spent a lot of time and energy in the 50s and 60s trying to keep Chiang Kai-shek in line, in order to avoid another proxy war with China because of that fear.
+
However, relying on proxies can also be very messy, since they're not really under your control. They often do things you'd rather they didn't (like kill innocent people, or start wars at inopportune times). It is also very easy for a conflict to start as a proxy war, only to eventually draw the patron in as well. The US involvement in Vietnam, for example, began with providing training and materiel for the South Vietnamese, but eventually escalated into a massive troop deployment and saw the US turn into the major combatant.  
  
 
==Modern adaptations==
 
==Modern adaptations==
 
<div style="float:right;width:300px;border:solid 1px;padding:5px;margin:0 10px;">''"Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography."'' <small>'''Paul&nbsp;Rodriguez'''</small></div>
 
<div style="float:right;width:300px;border:solid 1px;padding:5px;margin:0 10px;">''"Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography."'' <small>'''Paul&nbsp;Rodriguez'''</small></div>
  
In today's globalized world, some wars are starting to cross-over between types, where fighters from different states come together in undeclared wars and civil wars spill out past national boundaries.  This can be seen most clearly in the struggles between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan in the 1970s, and now in the fighting in Sudan/Chad/etc.
+
In today's globalized world, some wars are starting to cross-over between types, where fighters from different states come together in undeclared wars and civil wars spill out past national boundaries.  This can be seen most clearly in the struggles between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan in the 1980s, and now in the fighting in Sudan/Chad/etc.
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==

Revision as of 08:11, 23 July 2011

What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

War

Icon war2.svg
Don't believe us?
War is the continuation of politics by other means.[1]
—Carl von Clausewitz

Throughout history, whenever a dispute could not be settled peacefully, violence broke out. When enough people were on each side of the violence, it is called a war. Many efforts have been made to either prevent all wars[2] or to mitigate the effects of war.[3] They still occur frequently, although most of the violence has nowadays shifted to the sub-state level.

Contents

Definition

Technically, a war is a large-scale conflict between two groups. However, the exact scale of deaths needed to call something a war is constantly under debate. There are several broad types of wars.

International war

Traditionally, wars are fought between the armies of two or more sovereign states. While irregulars and guerrillas may play a part in such wars, the states are the ones in control. [4] Such wars are, at least in principle, governed by international law (most notably the Geneva convention), and explicitly discouraged by institutions such as the united Nations. Hostilities were usually preceded by formal declarations of war, but this practice has fallen out of favor - for example, neither the Afghanistan War nor the Iraq War were ever officially declared. This might be due to PR concerns, since these wars were supposed to be directed only against small elites in charge of the states, but not against the people themselves. The latter are, of course, still the ones who end up paying most of the blood toll for military interventions.

Civil war

A civil war describes a situation in which factions within one nation fight for control. This covers armed insurrections against the government, as well as organized violence between groups that the state is unable to stop. In both cases, civil wars can turn into international conflicts when outside powers are prompted to intervene. Civil wars are often extremely bloody affairs, because they blur the line between soldiers and civilians. Sometimes, one or more of the factions involved also wage all-out campaigns of genocide or ethnic cleansing, in which civiians become targets rather than "collateral damage".

Revolutionary war

Wars of revolution are also usually confined to a single country's territory. Their purpose is to overthrow the existing government structure and replace it with something the revolutionaries think will better serve the people. There are basically two kinds - in one, usually called a war of independence, a country or territory seeks to liberate itself from a colonial or imperial power; in the other, the goal is to overthrow the country's existing independent government.Examples of the former include the American War of Independence against England, and the Algerian one against France. The latter include the French, Russian, and Cuban revolutions. As with most wars, the "legitimacy" of the revolutionaries is definitely in the eye of the beholder - one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.

Religious war

Religious wars are usually civil wars, though they can also be international wars. A religious war is one where the primary motivation behind the war is specifically religious. The most well-known religious wars were those between the European states and the Islamic empire during the Crusades, or between the Protestant and Catholics sections of Germany during the 30 Years War. Until the 21st century, it seemed that religious wars were on the decline, but many see current US actions against Iraq and Afghanistan in that light.

Proxy war

Proxy wars, which became more common during the Cold War, are typically local civil wars or wars between smaller nation states in which major powers are backing one or more of the combative factions to further their own ends, but do not clash with each other directly. The Arab-Israeli conflict used to be cast in this light during the 1960s and 70s, and Soviet support for North Vietnam or American support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan are also prominent examples. Both of the latter cases are examples where one side was fighting a proxy war, while its primary opponent was engaged directly. A proxy war carries a number of benefits:

  • Someone else is providing a significant portion of the armed forces, thus lessening casualties for the external parties. In some cases interested parties may supply material support and training while refraining from providing combat personnel, such as the case of America's support for the Mujahideen in their efforts to counter the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
  • An increased sphere of influence - should the war be a successful one.
  • Large scale war between major powers breeds the danger of escalation, including the threat of nuclear war.
  • Fighting in one's own country tends to leave things in a bit of a mess, so it's preferable to have the fighting take place elsewhere.

However, relying on proxies can also be very messy, since they're not really under your control. They often do things you'd rather they didn't (like kill innocent people, or start wars at inopportune times). It is also very easy for a conflict to start as a proxy war, only to eventually draw the patron in as well. The US involvement in Vietnam, for example, began with providing training and materiel for the South Vietnamese, but eventually escalated into a massive troop deployment and saw the US turn into the major combatant.

Modern adaptations

"Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography." Paul Rodriguez

In today's globalized world, some wars are starting to cross-over between types, where fighters from different states come together in undeclared wars and civil wars spill out past national boundaries. This can be seen most clearly in the struggles between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan in the 1980s, and now in the fighting in Sudan/Chad/etc.

Footnotes

  1. http://www.clausewitz.com/CWZHOME/ECHEVAR/ECHJFQ.htm
  2. The creation of the United Nations was supposed to effect this, and deterrence in theory also serves this goal.
  3. The Roman Catholic Church passed many laws in the Middle Ages to limit the scope of wars, and many treaties have been signed since to that effect.
  4. For example, in Norway and France during World War II there were strong Resistance movements, but overall the Allies and the Axis directed the wars.
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