The Types of Warfare

What is War? We shall not enter into any of the abstruse definitions of war used by publicists. We shall keep to the element of the thing itself, to a duel. War is nothing but a duel on an extensive scale. If we would conceive as a unit the countless number of duels which make up a war, we shall do so best by supposing to ourselves two wrestlers. Each strives by physical force to compel the other to submit to his will: his first object is to throw his adversary, and thus to render him incapable of further resistance. War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfil our will. Violence arms itself with the inventions of Art and Science in order to contend against violence. Self-imposed restrictions, almost imperceptible and hardly worth mentioning, termed usages of International Law, accompany it without essentially impairing its power. Violence, that is to say physical force (for there is no moral force without the conception of states and law), is therefore the means; the compulsory submission of the enemy to our will is the ultimate object. In order to attain this object fully, the enemy must be disarmed; and this is, correctly speaking, the real aim of hostilities in theory. It takes the place of the final object, and puts it aside in a manner as something not properly belonging to war. - Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz, German-Prussian soldier and military theorist who stressed the "moral" and political aspects of war. 1780-1831.

What’s That Mean? War is the use of force to achieve a political aim against a thinking, responsive enemy.

20th Century in Review Late 1800s, the world thought the age of war was over Not only was there a Great War, there was then a Second World War Other conflicts less talked about as well Nature of warfare totally changed Mechanized by industry Lead to an increase in civilian deaths Nuclear weapons have raised destructive potential?

Effects of These Wars World War led to end of empires and the old order New social and political developments in Europe World War II led to the ride of superpowers and the decline of Europe This then led to the Cold War Still shaping the world today

Total War A country uses all its human, economic and military resources to ensure complete victory Conscription Civilian involvement (industry and defense) Using all weapons and developing new ones Government control of the economy and media Targeting civilians as well as combatants

Limited War Limiting or constraining the way in which war is conducted Confining the geographic area Limiting types of targets Limiting weapons that can be used Limiting the degree of mobilization Characteristic of the 19th century wars, reflecting both aims and difficulty in total mobilization Became a protection after the development of the nuclear weapons Korea, Vietnam War Falklands, Gulf War

What is a Total War of the 19th century?

Civil Wars Conflicts between two factions or regions of the same country Clash over ethnic, religious, political or ideological issues Aim to take control of the political and legal institutions of the state Insurgents versus the incumbents Sometimes foreign involvement as well Examples, Chinese, Russian, American, etc.

Guerilla Warfare Key feature of the 20th century Unconventional, small groups of fighters use tactics such as ambush and small-unit raids against a larger and less mobile formal army Became common for a number of reasons Many Asian and African conflicts of insurgents held limited resources, attempting to topple large European powers Common in areas with rough terrain Support of local population

Guerilla Warfare Other reasons Cold War saw proxy conflicts arise, forces of communism or capitalism being supported by a superpower Neither US nor USSR wanted involvement to escalate Rise of Marxism, coincides with the masses and guerilla warfare Democratic political systems are particularly vulnerable to these tactics Weapons technology, powerful small arms International mass media provides helpful publicity

Causes and Effects of War Economic Wars fought over foreign markets or raw materials Gulf War Can have impacts such as inflation or food rationing Germany after WWI Social Wars fought due to tensions between groups or classes Spanish Civil War Often structures, customs or traditions will change as a result Europe after WWI

Causes and Effects of War Political Rival factions may clash violently Spanish Civil War Can change the structure of a government or nation, and result in a complete reconfiguration of how a country is run Breakup of empire after WWI Ideological Cause is a clash of idea about how government and society should be run The Cold War Result is a new position of country or particular group Russian Revolution

Depicting the four types of war

Debate Topics War can be a positive force Vs.. War is never a positive force. Total war is a necessary strategy at times. Total war should never be implemented by a nation.