The Changing Character of War Flashcards
(114 cards)
1
Q
Intro; How many people died approx in WW1 according to Mary Coulder
A
35 million in World War one
2
Q
Intro; How many people died approx in WW2 according to Mary Coulder
A
50 million in World War two
3
Q
Intro; Who claims that world peace is much closer than we think?
A
Joshua Goldstein
4
Q
Intro; has war deaths increased in the last decade?
Why is this recent decade significant?
A
No. In fact the last decade has seen fewer war deaths than any decade in the past 100 years according to some data.
5
Q
Intro; In what aspect is the world less violent than it used to be? What type of war is no longer seen since the Cold War?
A
Wars between big national armies has all but disappeared along with Cold War and mass destruction.
6
Q
Intro; When was the last conflict between two great powers?
A
Korean war ended nearly 60 years ago.
Thus showing that major wars and destruction driven by superpowers fighting each other has stopped.
7
Q
When was the last sustained territorial war between two regular armies? Which countries was it between?
A
Ethiopia and Eritrea.
It ended a decade ago.
8
Q
Are civil wars more or less common than in the past? How does civil wars in 2007 compare with civil wars in 1990 in terms of quantity?
A
less.
There are a quarter fewer civil wars in 2007 than in 1990.
9
Q
What has big national armies fighting been replaced by ?
A
Asymmetrical guerilla warfare.
10
Q
What is the changing character of warfare not about?
A
The causes of war; there are complex debates about causes of war also not about the anarchical nature of the international system with no world government.
Not about changes in warfare in terms of technology or the revolution in military affairs, use of drones, cyber warfare…ect
11
Q
Clausewitz definition of war
What does the quote mean?
A
“War is nothing but the continuation of political intercourse with a mixture of other means.”
- By this he means that war does not put a stop to politics, to relations with other side. Violence is added to those relations. A state can threaten or use force as a negotiating move to get another state or political entity to do what it wants.
12
Q
For Clausewitz, How does politics limits to the use of force?
A
That Politics can both fuel and limit war and violence. They potentially arose from reason in the form of strategic policy or goals leaders are pursuing.
Political purpose behind force limits the use of force, violence of war is an instrument/ a means to an end but will stop once achieved the political end.
13
Q
For Clausewitz, How does politics fuel the use of force?
A
The political ideology of nationalism fuels violence and can cause long wars.
14
Q
What is Hedley Bull’s definition of war?
A
“War is organised violence carried out by political units against another.” The organised aspect is important.
15
Q
“War is organised violence carried out by political units against another.” What is a political unit in this context?
A
It is any kind of group capable of waging war, includes state and non state actors.
16
Q
What does a group need in order to organise violence ?
A
Leadership and resources; organising violence includes assembling an armed group capable of fighting other armed groups. Organisation is important part of war.
17
Q
War is shaped by many other factors including societies…
A
- the prevailing level of technology, culture, economic circumstances and other facts.
18
Q
Define Strategy ?
A
Strategy is the purposes pursued in war and the planning/ preparation. Its leadership have a purpose for violence i.e. gaining or protecting something.
19
Q
Define Tactics?
A
They are employed by armed forces to fight other armed forces to win combats or battles that make up the war. Techniques that armed forces use to win.
20
Q
The world can be described as national-international; what does the national refer to?
A
National refers to nation- states, the main political units that make up the international system.
21
Q
The world can be described as national-international; what does the international refer to?
A
International refers to relations among sovereign nation states.
22
Q
What the two general types of war?
A
Civil and international war
23
Q
Define Civil war?
A
It happens when internal groups battle over a control of a sovereign state or when a group or groups within a state want to secede and form own state.
24
Q
Are most contemporary wars international or civil?
Think of South Sudan and what the civil war is about?
A
Many contemporary wars are ‘civil wars’ in that they fought on the territory of a sovereign state and concern how /whom the state will be governed by.
25
Name three international actors that are typically involved in civil wars?
- UN, NATO
- NGO's
- Foreign fighters such as jihadis.
- Covert and overt involvement of foreign states.
26
Name three countries involved in the Syrian war (2011)
several foreign states including Russia, Iran, Uk, France, Saudi Arabia and US
27
Define International war?
When two or more sovereign states fight against each other.
28
Was the world made up of nation states up to the 1960s?
| If not, what was it made up of?
No.
| World was made of colonies and empires, the way colonies broke up set the stage for many conflicts that followed.
29
What has the global war on terror brought together?
intelligence, police and military forces within and among countries together to share information and conduct operations.
30
Are wars fought just between two actors or do they involve complex combinations of state and non state actors ?q
the latter, who fight within and among countries, to share information and conduct operations.
31
Define globalisation ?
the circulation of people, goods and ideas around the planet. War is one form that this circulation takes.
War connects the countries waging it.
32
How did globalisation affect the US invasion and occupation of Iraq (2003-2011)
Iraqi and American histories become entangled; what happened in Iraq affected the US and vice versa. It affects political entities and societies that wage it.
33
Did the second world war have global effects? Name two of them?
Formation of UN, fatal weakening of European empires leading to emergency of new states in Africa and Asia and creation of new technologies.
34
Do states or non states posses the greatest military power?
States still. The international order remains organised around nation-states, although wars have global dimensions.
35
List Clausewitz's trinities
| These trinities are war's three dominating tendencies ?
Passion
Chance
Reason
36
How do wars involve passion ?
Passion for fighting and the hostilities that inspire and sustain killing in war.
37
How do wars involve chance?
Because anything can happen in war, all the different elements in military operations create unpredictable combinations that shape the outcome of wars. e.g. the weather
38
How to wars involve reason?
Because their is a political objective as shown through the notion of strategy.
39
The primary trinity is connected to the second one. tendencies allocated to a political entity. What is the realm of passion connected to?
the people their feelings and beliefs about the war and their will of lack thereof to wage it.
40
The primary trinity is connected to the second one. What is the realm of chance connected to?
Armed forces who have to test abilities against war, on the battlefield.
41
The primary trinity is connected to the second one. What is the realm of reason connected to?
leadership, to the political authorities who have decided upon war and set its aims and generals/military leaders who translate aims into reality.
42
What is the distinction between limited and total war?
| Example of each
Limited war is fought for a less goal than political existence. i.e. war over a disputed territory or access to markets. i.e. Falklands war (1982), Argentina and UK. No home invasions, both would exist after the war.
Total war occurs when a state or other political entity is fighting for its Existance. i.e. second world war, end of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler's regime, the third reich.
43
Can war be limited for one participant and total for another.
Yes.
44
Historically, who were wars between?
Super powers, i.e inter-state wars. Major powers in the international system would readily fight each other.
45
During the world wars, what was the nation-state a vehicle of?
What did the nation-state use to make armies ?
vehicle for the mobilisation of military power and the pursuit of war through centralised state bureaucracies, power of nationalism and military conscription.
46
How were world wars bigger than the nation-state?
| Think colonialism and who were allies.
War was waged at huge scale over vast spaces, so multinational alliances, axis and allies were formed. wartime planning for military operations and economy led to western allies working together; NATO.
Imperial powers such as Britain and France drew heavily on their colonies for resources and recruits.
47
Who used nuclear weapons in the 2nd WW?
The US ended the war against Japan by dropping bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
48
Does war between major powers still happen now?
No, its obsolete or a remote possibility at best.
| Some people attribute this to the democratic peace theory.
49
When did major powers stop going to war?
After the second WW, no more wars between superpowers. Although, there was the Cold War but this was never direct conflict between their armies.
50
The risk of great superpowers and their armies going to war with one another has declined, is there no tension/conflict between superpowers today?
No.
Still tensions and competition between major superpower, conflict is still visible.
i.e Pakistan and India over Cashmere.
i.e. Russia, Europe and US over Ukraine.
i.e. China and neighbours over sea passages.
51
Has inter-state war in general (not just super powers) declined or increased in recent years.
Declined.
52
Cold war; What, strategically is wrong with the use of nuclear weapons ?
They are too destructive, they would destroy all life itself on earth; 'nuclear winter.'
53
Cold war; What is the disarming first strike?
Each side feared a disarming first strike from the other superpower.
This would destroy the other side's ability to retaliate as all nuclear weapons would be destroyed.
54
Cold war; Why did each side have to have nuclear weapons?
To keep the other side from using them/ threatening to use them.
55
Cold war; The fears of nuclear attack led to?
enormous military budgets, huge redundant nuclear forces and much spying.
They also formed blocs or alliances, each led by a superpower.
56
Cold war; Although no direct fighting between superpowers was there still fighting during this period? Where did it take place? How were the two superpowers involved?
- Yes. All around the world but not in Europe.
- Happened in Korea, Cuba ...
- Involved through advising and supporting allies in the civil wars. 'proxy wars.'
57
List a few reasons why a decrease in inter-state wars within western world?
(Think democratic peace theory.)
western 'security community' ; western powers have shared interests.
Economic interdependence between trade and business, shared human rights and democratic principles.
regional or multilateral institutions such as NATO or EU.
58
List a few reasons why a decrease in inter-state wars outside western world?
(Think human cost, end of colonialism and global governance.)
Wars are increasingly costly
- Nuclear weapons; mutually assured destruction, both will end up obliterated. Not worth human cost.
- Increase trade, colonialism is no longer needed in order to have trade link with a state.
- Norms and ideas; sovereign, nationalism and international law; made wars of aggression less legal and legitimate in the international system
59
What did the world Bank say about war in the 21st century
"violence and conflict have not been banished" within the international system but "21st century violence does not fit the 20th century mould."
60
What are the two types of wars that still occur today?
"New wars"
| Liberal wars
61
Who coined the term 'new wars'?
Mary Kaldor
62
who are "new wars" between?
Wars between the "weak"
63
What does 'weak' states mean?
Weak not meaning defenceless, innocent, nice people but weak in terms of power, resources and capabilities.
- politically, economically and military weak states and non state actors who are not developed.
64
Define liberal wars
wars between the 'strong' (West) and the weak (rest)
65
What is an example of a liberal war?
War on terror or humanitarian intervention.
66
Mary Kaldor definition of new wars
New wars are 'a new type of warfare associated with globalisation and with the disintegration of states' (Kaldor 2005: 491)
67
Has there been a fundamental shift in the nature of war?
According to Kaldor, yes.
68
Who are old wars between? state or non state actors? armies?
Old wars are 'wars between states fought by armed forces in uniform."
69
New wars are a mixture of three components. One is mixture of war, what are the two others?
organised crime and massive violations of human rights.
70
Name a few countries were 'new' wars (civil wars and state failures) are taken place?
Congo, Sudan, Somalia Middle East and central and southern Asia such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka
71
New wars; What has globalisation eroded? and what type of identity has emerged?
state legitimacy
| ethno-nationalist identities, kaldor terms them new sectarian identities.
72
'New' wars are fought over not ideology but...
identity.
Sectarian identity is most important part of new wars.
No longer are wars fought over geopolitical interests or ideologies.
73
In Post-cold era, states already weak and sustained by a foreign power collapsed. What did this lead to?
State fragmentation and emergence of war Lords, e.g. Yugoslavia.
74
'New wars" What can illegal and criminal groups now do as a result of global trade?
Think of ISIS.
It allows them to sell resources and buy weapons .
75
Where did conflict and fighting take place in the 'old wars' ?
which state actors were involved in "old wars'
On the battlefield, old wars were linked to rise of modern nation state.
Europe (18nth to 20th Century.)
76
In 'new' wars, who is most of the violence directed at?
sustained and systemic violence by state and non-state actors towards civilian populations.
77
Name some of those within the network of state and non state actors who fight?
regular armed forces, mercenaries, jihadists, warlords and paramilitaries.
Criminals, pirates and terrorists.
78
Where does conflict and actual fighting take place in the 'new' wars? Are there battles? Why is the violence directed at civilians than enemy forces ?
Conflict does not take place on the battlefield.
Because its a counterinsurgency tactic or ethnic cleansing.
i.e. use rape as a weapon of war, look at DRC.
79
What distinctions break down in new wars between combatant and ...
between legitimate violence and...
non-combatants
| criminality.
80
What do 'new wars' mean for the countries economy?
decline of GDP, loss of tax revenue and legitimacy of the state
81
What are 'new' wars often funded by?
predatory private finance including pillage, kidnapping and ransoming, smuggling and hijacking humanitarian aid.
82
In one sentence, what is the main critique of 'new' wars?
'New' wars are not that new.
83
Elaborate on why 'new' wars are not that new'
Many of the characteristics of new wars associated with weak states can be found in early modern period.
Phenomena like mass rape, forced population displacement or atrocities against civilians all have a long history.
84
Name an example of interwar states not being completely gone?
the invasion of Iraq in 2003 involved a coalition of states that went to war with another state.
85
What is 'new' about new wars?
| - What type of order do we live in?
There is a new global environment since the cold war, living in a liberal international order.
86
What are new elements of contemporary conflicts to do with?
Globalisation and technology.
| Also global governance means that more non state actors get involved.
87
What is the implications of new forms of communications for 'new wars'?
Think about who is now involved in civil wars?
Contemporary conflicts are very local but global connections are more extensive including criminal networks international agencies and NGOs.
88
Strong western states have changed perspective and are paying more attention to these conflicts, why?
(Orthodox or liberal explanation)
humanitarianism, (humanitarian concerns), security,( e.g. nuclear proliferation among weak states and terrorist organisations, the issue of trans-national terrorism, piracy and criminal organisations disrupt global economy.
Human security, (Not national security but distinct form of security, those states who abuse human rights are seen as problematic because they produce refugees, breeding ground for terrorism).
89
Which actors subscribe to the liberal or orthodox explanation ?
Liberals, neoconservatives, NGOs and security experts.
90
Strong western states have changed perspective and are paying more attention to these conflicts, why?
(critical explanation)
new wars allow new form of power and imperialism to occur.
Humanitarian war on terror and human security agenda is part of a new form of imperialism as strong western states seek excuses to justify foreign intervention.
91
Who subscribes to the critical explanation?
Realists, critical scholars such as marxists and some NGOs.
92
Multilateral interventions have taken place by western states with allies around the world in scenarios of civil wars, failing or rogue states in poorest parts of the world. Name three examples of humanitarian interventions?
US in Somalia 1992-1994
Britain in Sierra Leone 2000
British and French with US and Nato backing in Libya 2011
Nato in Bosnia 1992-1995
93
Whats the two general types of liberal wars?
Humanitarian interventions and War on Terror
94
Name two examples of war on terror?
US and NATO in Afghanistan 2001
US and Britain in Iraq 2003
US drone strikes in Yemen
US and allies against ISIS in Iraq and Syria 2014 - today.
95
By what percent has US military spending increased from 2000-2010?
Grown more than 80% in real terms.
96
Whats new about liberal wars?
What actors are involved?
Who are powerful states fighting against? other state actors or not?
Not only most of the current wars are fought by western powers, but especially the liberal discourses, norms and practices that define many of these wars.
multitude of state and non state actors being involved.
Powerful states are not fighting each other but fighting guerrillas, paramilitaries, war lords, terrorist organisations and insurgents.
97
Humanitarian intervention; liberal reasons; What is liberal about liberal wars?
Explain the responsibility to protect concept?
sovereignty can be legally violated and war pursued only in self defence or authorised by security council in line with collective security.
98
Humanitarian intervention; liberal reasons; Western states argue that sovereignty should be seen as conditional of states ...
respecting the human rights of their citizens.
99
Humanitarian intervention; liberal reasons; What is the realist perspective on wars of choice?
Wars of choice vs wars of necessity (events in Somalia, Kosovo ect do not undermine western security and not in national interest)
100
Humanitarian intervention; liberal reasons; Liberal practices; Are humanitarian wars generally multilateral efforts or not?
yes they are. based on formal coalitions of powerful states such as UN, NATO or voluntary coalitions.
101
Humanitarian intervention; liberal practices; Name some global governance institutions that get involved on humanitarian interventions
NATO, international NGOs and World Bank.
102
Humanitarian intervention; liberal practices; What liberal aspects are included in post conflict reconstruction
liberal free market and democratic lines.
| Attentive to women rights, elections, open to business for trade, independent judiciary...all liberal principles
103
War on terror; Liberal reasons;
| Why do terrorists hate the west?
War to protect liberal societies, terrorists hate us because of our values, fight to defend our values
104
War on terror; Liberal reasons; Democratic Peace thesis, explain
(promote democracy, democracies fight non democracies) democracy do not fight each other and the worldwide spread of democracy can lead to pece.
105
War on terror; Liberal practices; explain private military companies
Private military companies (this liberal war and peace complex is marked by privatisation of warfare and security. The ever growing presence of private security contractors and military companies, described as modern day mercenaries as they fight the war and keep order in conflicted areas.)
106
Name some general critique of the democracy promotion in Iraq
Did they just use democracy promotion as an excuse for intervention?
hypocritical or misguided.
| Yes, when all other excuses were exhausted and needed legitimising
107
What did many argue that the underlying purpose of invading Iraq was?
Just about oil.
| But did put forward a post-saddam political system that had some of trappings of democracy such as elections.
108
To many critics, liberal wars are highly problematic
| Are Iraq and Libya better off?
No, worse off.
| Where are the promised humanitarian and democratic goods.
109
To many critics, liberal wars are highly problematic
Is there strong legal basis for drones, whats the issue thee?
What is the rationale for drones
No, shaky at best.
| ‘kill them over there rather than giving them a trial over here.’
110
To many critics, liberal wars are highly problematic
| In which country has torture taken place by US forces and what about on US mainland
Guantanamo bay or Iraq are
| delegitimate aspects of liberal wars.
111
Surveillance at home; humanitarian catastrophes and terrorism do not pose existential threat that cold war, nuclear confrontation or second world war did.
So why are we still attacking?
112
We have seen the exponential expansion of security state at home and decline in civil liberties, examples
Edward Snowden case and travel bans, racial profiling
113
Liberal wars are arguably a new form of imperialism as reflected in humanitarian catastrophes...
terrorism and responsibility to protect all new ways to govern 'barbarians.'
114
liberal wars are not inherently good wars and they often have illiberal features such as torture. They have real political aims of security and accumulation of power. NOT what liberal wars refer to.
Only intervene when in their interest to do so, ignore other times.
