Types of War, Categories of Strategy, War as Strategy and Security - Essay Example

International Relations “War” Definition of War War can be defined by what it signifies and who it affects. The definition of war differs from one person to another. In domestic law, war is an organized act aimed at bringing strife between people. Definition of war in international law, “war is a contention between two or more States through their armed forces, for the purpose of overpowering each other and imposing such conditions of peace as the victor pleases” (Dinstein 5). Clausewitz defines war as an “act of violence anticipated to force an opponent to fulfill their will” (Clausewitz 18). Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy defines war as “an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political communities” (Orend 1). From these definitions war can occur between people, cultures and states. War is usually aimed at having power over the other person. An overall definition of war is continuous violence between groups in which state military forces take part on one side in case of a civil war or both sides in case of interstate wars. Types of War There are different types of war which are triggered by different situations. Hegemonic war also known as global war or world war or general war is a war aimed at controlling or conquering the whole world. It last happened during the Second World War. Where a state attempts to conquer and occupy another state, it is referred to as total war. The aim of the state is to reach the capital city and force the government to surrender. The whole of the enemy’s family is perceived as a legitimate target. After conquering, the victor replaces the subdued government with its own choice. An example of total war is the 2003 Iraq war. In limited war, the conqueror aims at doing other things apart from conquering and occupying the state. It is a common phenomenon in border wars, after occupying the state it wants, it may stop there to defend its gains. An example of such a war is the U.S. war against Iraq in 1991; U.S. recaptured Kuwait but did not go further to topple Saddam Hussein’s government. Civil war occurs between some groups within a state with the aim of creating, or preventing a new government for the whole state or some parts of it. Guerilla war is operated by illegal forces that are hidden by civilian population. They rarely confront an enemy; instead they harass and punish the enemy for a long time till the enemy limits its controls. Finally the enemy loosens its grip on the territory and liberates it to the guerrilla army (Eckbaull 1). Strategy A simple definition of strategy can be a means of solving problems or a problem solving process. In war it can be defined as a combination of various battle tactics in preparation for war or when at war. Clausewitz defines strategy as use of tactics to achieve policy objectives. This definition is not all inclusive because it deals only with military elements. Since the times of Clausewitz the definition has changed to as “level of war at which campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted, and sustained to accomplish strategic objectives” (Bartholomees 8). Strategy involves elements such as national objectives, military objectives, military concepts, national policies, national resources, military supplies, and military forces. The elements are essential because they define the ways, means and ends of a war strategy. For a strategy to work it must have a way, means and an end result. Categories of Strategy On a conceptual basis, strategy can be declaratory, actual or ideal. Declaratory strategy is a strategy formulated by a nation. The declaratory strategy may or may not be true and the nation may or may not believe in it. Actual strategy shows the differences between declared strategy and reality. It is a measure of whether what the nation has declared can be done. If it can be done, then the strategy is an actual strategy. An ideal strategy is a theoretical strategy. Resources needed are abundant both quantitatively and qualitatively. An ideal strategy may or may not concur with reality (Bartholomees 17). Based on the pattern of execution strategy can be sequential, simultaneous, and cumulative. A sequential strategy involves actions to gain control of the target through a series of steps that follow each other. A simultaneous strategy includes simultaneous attacks of the target. A cumulative strategy is a result of collective effect of numerous actions over a certain period. Losses made over time makes the strategy effective (Bartholomees 17). Standard strategy category is made up of attrition, annihilation, and exhaustion. Annihilation is total destruction of the enemy armed forces in a single battle or a short campaign to gain political victory. Attrition is gradual destruction of the enemy armed forces by a series of campaigns or a long campaign to gain political victory. Exhaustion is the complete erosion of the enemy nation’s resources to gain political victory. In exhaustion, the enemy armed forces are not destroyed (Bartholomees 17). Organizational strategy is a strategy associated with measures at the nation level. Powers available to a national strategy are; diplomatic, informational, military, and economic powers. Other strategies included recently are political and psychological strategies. These strategies are applied differently. For example, in a civil war political strategy is very important. These strategies are applied differently depending on the type of war. A few theories explain how a strategy can be executed (Bartholomees 18). Sun Tzu advocated for deception, intelligence, maneuver and surprise without fighting to win a battle. In books he wrote that to restrain an enemy without fighting is the best skill. He considered fighting many battles and winning them as lacking skills. Clausewitz advocated for three things in order to win a battle. The first thing was to seek for battle; the attacker already knows the outcome of the planned battle. The second thing was to attack the source of the enemy’s powers. He proposed that attacking the enemy army was the best way to start a campaign, and follow by capturing his capital and then attack his alliances. The final thing was the concept of culminating point (Bartholomees 21). Jomini was specific on how to plan a war. The plan was as follows; select a theater of war, determine the decisive points in the theater, select bases and zones of operation, and designate the objective point. Most of the terms used by Jomini are used in modern operational art (Bartholomees 22). Lindell Hart advocates for indirect approach where the strategist forces the enemy to change line of communication by physical dislocation of the commander. This is achieved psychologically in the commander’s mind (Bartholomees 22). Beaufre explains two principles of strategy; selection of decisive points to be attacked depending on the vulnerable points of the enemy and selection of maneuvers which will enable the decisive points to be reached. Beaufre embraced use of nonmilitary powers such as economy and politics in wars. Deterrence is a concept that was developed by Beaufre in which the strategy was to block the opponent from doing something (Bartholomees 24). Luttwak advocates use of attrition and relational maneuver strategies. The aim of relational maneuver is to destroy the enemy’s system; the enemy is not destroyed physically. The two strategies have to be used together either in equal measures or one being dominant over the other (Bartholomees 25). Van Creveld points out that, modern wars are very different. The reasons as to why they are fought are very different from what we believe. The fighting modes are way beyond the standard. Reasons for fighting are highly individualistic; groups feel their existence threatened and respond violently (Bartholomees 27). War as Strategy and Security Weak states use war as a means of retaining power. They spend huge amount of national income on buying military supplies to cater for the expanding security forces. Other than buying military supplies, they use violence against real and perceived enemies of the ruling regime. Opposition is suppressed by use of imprisonment, torture, extrajudicial killings, assassination, genocide, mass rape, ethnic cleansing and destruction of food supplies. To suppress emergence of a leader within the regime, they employ divide and rule strategy. Other strategies employed are manipulation of democratic political processes and use of corruption. These regimes also seek external assistance from any state that can guarantee their survival. During cold war, some of the weak states obtained military support from superpowers in exchange for political and strategic help in the East-West confrontation. External interventions are aimed at ensuring regime security (Collins 154). States decide what goes or does not go in the military security agenda. They have the capability of organizing political violence. This is not possible in the weak states. Organized violence is useful for destroying and threatening opponents or enemies. It also helps in capturing a territory. Heavy expenditure on military supplies is important to combat any military security threat. Rebel uprisings within the state are possible when the armed forces see themselves as referent objects. Advanced industrial states are free from such threats that threaten their survival. Use of armed forces for peacekeeping or humanitarian purposes is political rather than a security issue. Such an attitude undermines the need to spend heavily on military supplies to suppress military security threats (Collins 135). Conclusion Recently war has been used as a strategy to maintain security by both developed and developing countries. Weak states use violence as a means of maintaining security. They believe that by suppressing the opponent they are able to stay in power for as long as they want. Even these regimes are not very secure. In order to suppress any internal uprising, they use divide and rule strategy. This disintegrates the whole system and the regime stays secure. Developed states use their armed forces for humanitarian purposes and peacekeeping to keep at bay any rebel uprising. They view it as a political issue rather than a security issue. Works Cited Bartholomees, Boone. “Theory of War and Strategy.” Guide To National Security Issues. 1 (2008): Web. 6 Oct. 2010. Clausewitz, Carl von. On War. Plain Label Books, 1980. Print. Collins, Allan. Contemporary Security Studies. Oxford University Press, 2007. Print. Dinstein, Yoram. War, Aggression and Self-Defence. Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print. Orend, Brian. Stanford Encyclopedia Of Philosophy. 2005. Web. Read More