This document summarizes the key causes and types of armed conflicts throughout history. It discusses the major wars of the last century including WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. It also examines theories for what causes wars, such as power struggles between nations, clashes of ideology or culture, and the pursuit of dominance. The document outlines international laws around when the use of armed force is justified and how conflicts should be conducted, focusing on distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants.
This document summarizes the key causes and types of armed conflicts throughout history. It discusses the major wars of the last century including WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. It also examines theories for what causes wars, such as power struggles between nations, clashes of ideology or culture, and the pursuit of dominance. The document outlines international laws around when the use of armed force is justified and how conflicts should be conducted, focusing on distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants.
This document summarizes the key causes and types of armed conflicts throughout history. It discusses the major wars of the last century including WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. It also examines theories for what causes wars, such as power struggles between nations, clashes of ideology or culture, and the pursuit of dominance. The document outlines international laws around when the use of armed force is justified and how conflicts should be conducted, focusing on distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants.
Chapter 7: Armed Conflict, Part 1 Causes and Outbreak
War Definition: armed conflict; especially b/w nations, involving at least 1 000 battlefield casualties Over 200 wars in the last 100 years 2 per year Twin pillars of hard power: $ and force
Interstate classical international symmetrical vs. Intra-state civil asymmetrical Hot vs. Cold war Hot: Actual live, shooting wars Cold: re The Cold War Insurgent war Intra-state: within one country i.e. Syria Symmetrical: war b/w equals, war b/w govts Asymmetrical: war b/w non-equals, war b/w state and various non-state actors o State: o War on Terror o Terrorist groups o Militias o Civil wars
100 years, 3 Huge Wars + 4 th ? Kondatieff Long wave analysis Deep currents Huge war: between the Great Powers o WWI (1914-18) o WWI (1939-45) o Cold War (1945-1991) o War on Terror? 2001-? (USA) WWI War of imperial rivalry Breaks out b/c Germany fights France for hegemony in Europe Everyone expects it to be a short war o However, theyre evenly matched o Stalemate and keep grinding it out Bleak, mega-violent, cynical war o 20 million dead from war o Spanish flu arises ruins infrastructure Soldiers spread flu around Kills 20 million more New weapons invented: o Tanks o Mustard gas o Airplanes as weapons 2
Russians go broke due to warRussian Revolution in 1917 o Communism starts in Russia, communists takes Russia out of war USA finally comes inAlliesvictory Although only fought in Europe, Europe had imperial power o Still had worldwide implications
Treaty of Versailles (1919) Germany punished severelyreparations $$$$ o If reparations had to be continued to be paid, would lead up to 1985 Germans try to repay money in Treaty of Versailles o Go broke o Hitler comes along Hitler says: forget Treaty of Versailles o Build up military Question of the Ottoman Empire o First time West gets involved in MENA (Middle East North Africa) USA o Major powerrise of American Power All about REVENGE
WWII (1939-45) War against authoritarian fascism Over 60 countries involved o All over global o Most destructive war ever 50-72 million dead o Officially 60 million (solely on battleground) Weapons developed o Atomic weapons o 300 000 people died o Japan willing to surrender, but not unconditionally o Thus US dropped the atomic bombs Allies win completely US and USSR especially Kick-off to decolonization o All of Europe is bankrupt o Although UK and France won, they couldnt sustain their colonies All about reconstruction o Rebuilt both Germany and Japan o Creating huge economic success stories o Very different approach from WWI
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Cold War (1945-91) Democratic capitalism (USA) vs. authoritarian communism (USSR) Conflict between two social systems Cold never directly shoot/invade each other o Come close at Cuban missile crisis Dont end up shooting b/c of nukes MAD o Deterrence Proxy wars o Means: pawn/substitute o E.g. Korean War (1950-53) Never a peace treaty for this war North: USSR and China support South: Allies support Koreans are pawns b/w the powers Standstill o Vietnam 54-74 North Vietnam conquers over Southern Vietnam North supported by USSR and China, South: allies USA lost, Vietnam is now one o Afghanistan 79-89 Americans arm Afghan rebels with weapons to fight USSR Payback for Vietnam and Korea Later on, same people use them against US (terrorists) Results Economycommunistcollapsed Massive Military Expenditurecrowds everything out People hate dictatorshipdemand change USA is now global hegemon Capitalism + globalization
War on Terror (2001-?) Theory of battle to the death b/w to ideologies Have already been two proxy wars: Iraq and Iran o Will have many more
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Why do we go to War? Theories of Causes of War Realism & Power o Trying to exert influence over others via force Idealism & Culture clash o E.g. Cold War (capitalist vs. communist) o WWII (democrats vs. authoritarians) o War of Terror (democrats vs. radical Islamic regimes) Nationalism & Elite Scheming o Give idealistic reasons o Fight for country, etc. o Fight to protect fellow soldiers o Make ruthless use of ordinary Non-Rational Group Rivalry and/or Impulse to Destroy o Freud1920 o Create, DestroySex o We have an impulse to create and impulse to destroy o Non-rational impulses o To him, we are in a cycleperiods of destruction and peace Male Violence & Quest for Dominance o Feminist scholars: a true deep cause of war is male violence o Over-saturated w/ testosterone, competition for Alpha-male Natural Resources, Money, & The Military-Industrial Complex
War: Start o Realism: start with any means necessary o Idealism: never start Middle End
Realism Anything Goes! Ruthless Calculus of National Self-Interest International Law Somethings Go, Others Don't Rules governing *Armed Conflict* Idealism Pacifism Nothing Goes! Non-violent resistance only E.g. Ghandi (40's) MLK (60's) 5
What to Do in War? International Laws of Armed Conflict: A. Jus ad Bellum:UN Charter; Starting a War (applies to political leaders) 1. Just Cause o Self-Defence from Aggression o Other-Defence from Aggression o Any Other Reason: prior UNSC approval (e.g. AHI, armed humanitarian intervention; pre-emptive strike) Aggression: o Use of armed force across an international border (violent violation of human rights of people + rights of states Political Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity o GermanyBelgium o GermanyPoland o USSRAfghanistan o IraqKuwait
2. Right Intention *Norm* o Main motive must be desire to secure just cause and not, say, economic gain 3. Public Declaration by Proper Authority o Nationaldemocraticlegislature o NationalNon-democraticexecutive o International (UNSC) 4. Last Resort o After diplomacy/economic incentives/sanctioned 5. Probability of Success *Norm* o No pointless force/force doomed to fail 6. Proportionality o Problem must be so big/bad that war is an appropriate solution (e.g. aggression)
*All of 1-6 must be met*
Overview of Jus in Bello Hague & Geneva Conventions Point: A to restrain & channel violence o B theres a proper way to fight Applies to soldiers & commanding officers IL: Hague + Geneva Conventions, + dozens particular treaties Violation can bring on war crimes prosecution o National (military justice systems) o International (ICC)
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Five Main Rules of Jus in Bello: 1. *Discrimination & Non-Combatant Immunity* o Aim force only at legitimate targets o Due care for civilians Minimize civilian casualties, Use smart weapons Train soldiers not to target civilians Gain intelligence/data If it happens: collateral damage, not a war crime o Benevolent quarantine for POWs Supposed to give them hygiene, food, sleeping quarters Cant torture suspected terrorists either
Legitimate target o Combatants o Source of harm o Military supply o Weapons factories o Top political institution o War machine Illegitimate targets o Civilians o Unarmed; not a source of harm o Dual-Use Target o Basic infrastructure o Intl Law: Absolutely not, b/c civilians use them, but recently they have been targeted Such a formidable expression of power o Shock-and-Awe
2. Proportionality o (Of tactics to objectives) o Example of a violation: Persian Gulf War Saddam gave up in Kuwait Was on highway and started shooting b/c of traffic jam (only one highway) 3. No Prohibited Weapons o (WMD especially) o Biological weapons (virus) C (gas) o Land mines are prohibited o Nuclear weapons allowed 4. No Means Mal in Se o Forcing soldiers to fight own side o Use of child soldiers o Use of rape as tool of war 5. No Reprisals