Wars: Types

A vast term to cover many disputes. Set criteria

for war is in which there are a thousand battle
deaths. This distinguishes war from lower level
violence such as violent strikes or riots.
Arise from different situations and play different
sorts of roles in bargaining.
HEGEMONIC WAR. To control the entire world.
The rules of international system as a whole
including the role of world hegemony.(holding of
power by one state).Also called world war,global
war,general war,systemic war.( ww II Last
hegemonic war)
• TOTAL WAR: waged by one state to conquer
other. Goal is to occupy capital and force the
surrender of govt which can later on be replaced
by the victor’s choice. (iraq’s war is case). With
the involvement of whole society ,entire society
is considered legitimate target.
• LIMITED WAR: military actions carried out to
gain some objectives short of surrender and
occupation of enemy. (ist gulf war: US took back
the Iraqi territory only).Raids are limited wars
that consists of a single action. a bombing run or
quick attack by land.1981 ,israeli plnes bombed
iraqi nuclear facility.
• Civil war: War b/w factions to stop the formation
of new govt with in a state for entire state or
some part of it.
• War of Eritrea, a former province of Ethiopia.
• War of East Taimoor.
• Most brutal among wars. Citizens act no less
cruelly than the enemies.
• GUERRILLA WAR: includes certain kinds of
civil war. Warfare without front lines. Irregular
forces operate hidden or protected or in midst
of civilian populations. Purpose is to haras and
punish it so as to gradually limit its operation a
nd effectively liberate territory from its control.
 Causes of war
• “of war men ask the outcome not the cause”
said by Seneca (Roman Scholar) 2000 y ago
• Term conflict is referred to armed conflicts
• Conflict is a condition for bargaining, that gives
leverage to states more than they would expect
in normal situations.
• Whether fair or unfair the particular out come of
a bargain is settlement of the particular conflict.
• Why wars breakout varies from one to another.
• No single or simple cause can be there to
determine war.
 Levels of Analysis
• Individual level:Theories about war centeron
rationality. (following rationality or deviation)
• Domestic level:Draws attention to
characteristics of state or societies that may
make then more or less flat to use violence in
resolving conflicts. During cold war Marxist
accused capitalist for use of force in conflicts.
• Interstate level: Explain wars in terms of power
relations among major actors in int system.
• Global level: Major warfare inint system is
cyclical. Links large wars with economic waves
 Types of conflicts.
• Nationalism: Devotion to the interests of one’s
own nation over others. Nation is population
with same identity, language and culture.
• Principle of self determination implies that
people who identify as nation would have the
right to form a state exercise sovereignty.
Generally SD is achieved by violence. Israel-
Palestine conflict is vital example.
 Ethnic conflict
• Ethnic groups are large groups sharing same
language, culture, religious ties ,common
identity and are important source of ethnic
conflicts. Conflicts b/w ethnic groups often
have material aspects.Stems from dislike or
hatred.Often form basis of nationalist
sentiments.
• Religious conflicts: Material grievances often
find expression as religious conflicts.
Fundamentalist movements have gained
strength.
• IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICTS: like religion.Have
weaker hold on core values and cause fewer
problems for international system. Capitalist
democracy vs communism.
• Territorial Conflicts: 2 types are there, Territorial
disputes about where borders are drawn and
conflict over entire state with in existing
borders.
• SECESSION:efforts by a province or region to
secede from an exiting state ,drawing border
around itself like a new state.
• Lingering dispute: Disputed interstate
borders.Israel-palestine.Pak-India over Kashmir