Has the Nature of Warfare Changed? - Essay Sample

Introduction

A study by Collins Gray indicates that war can only be based on facts and not the continuity in change. There are higher chances that a person would undervalue or be incorrect on the value of continuity in war. The principal subject in the war context is future war as it involves both changes and continuousness from the past. It is therefore essential to understand the definition of the past and continuity in the war setting. War has a constant nature but consists of an ever-changing character. Also, each war varied and is generally conducted in different styles. War has prevalent and universal settings that define and explain its historic domain. From my standpoint, the form of war has always been irregular, and the nature of warfare depends on the leading developments.

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There have been several changes in warfare as from the end of the Cold War. The international politics platform is portrayed as being troublesome, and individuals have become aware of the sub-state divisions. There is a continuing line of change that differentiates the current type of wars from the traditional ones. The same factors still cause the wars, but they have been altered to appear in different forms. Also, the current politics are deeply affected by the developments and origin of the Cold War by the decisions made by earlier generations. Poor governance is still prevalent just like it was in the past years. Moreover, it is essential to highly consider the continuities in war and also recognise the changing trends n why and how it is being conducted.

There are various causes of changes in the way in which war is waged and the conditions that are mandatory towards changes in war. These elements should be considered regardless of the cause of war which may be intentional, undesired or incidental. Vardi stresses on the strategies that are used in waging war instead of the reasons why war is conducted. The article presents that the past wars incorporated the traditional mode of fighting as compared to the current issues where strategies in war have various developments. The author uses Germany to demonstrates some of the plans incorporated by Germany as there fighting policy in the major wars that they were involved. The development of the German Military did not make them succeed some of the wars, and they were able to wage across some of the wars even with the new developments.

There have been various ongoings concerning war in terms of the transformationalists and the traditionalists. The transformationalists way of war relies on the information age and has incorporated technology as part of its tactics. Technology and qualitative strategies in war are essential for ensuring readiness at all times. There have been four several military tactics outlined including the gunpowder revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the second industrial revolution and the current information age. Data is essential in war as it will lead to effective strategies of winning a war. Merits in a future war will require the integration of highly networked and decentralized forces. Early adaptation to technology does not infer to winning as the rival could also do the same. However, it initially provides an initial advantage, and that is vital in war. Technology needs to be integrated with other factors such as training, organisation and tactics to be used in the war.

References

Armed Forces Journal. (2019). Warfare - past and present. [online] Available at: http://armedforcesjournal.com/warfare-past-and-present/ [Accessed 6 Apr. 2019].

Gray, C. (2010). War-Continuity in Change, and Change in Continuity.

Kennedy, C. (2019). The Changing Nature of Intrastate Conflict and 'New Wars'. [online] Available at: https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9780203105962.ch17 [Accessed 6 Apr. 2019].

University Press Scholarship Online. (2019). The Changing Character of War.