War
Armed conflict between states or organized groups, often for political aims.
War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of states, or between governmental forces and organized armed groups, or between such groups. It is generally characterized by widespread violence, destruction, and mortality, and aims typically involve political, economic, or territorial objectives. War has changed over history, with great power wars and territorial conquests declining since 1945, while civil wars have increased in absolute terms.
- definition
- Armed conflict between states, governmental forces, or organized groups
- characteristics
- Widespread violence, destruction, mortality; regular or irregular military forces
- etymology
- From Old English wyrre/werre, Old French werre, Frankish *werra, Proto-Germanic *werzō 'mixture, confusion'
- key trend since 1945
- Decline in great power wars, territorial conquests, and war declarations; increase in civil wars
- regulation
- Increasingly regulated by international humanitarian law
- battle deaths
- Declined in part due to advances in military medicine
Lore & Background
The English word war derives from 11th-century Old English wyrre and werre, from Old French werre, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *werzō meaning 'mixture, confusion'. Anthropologists disagree whether warfare was common throughout human prehistory or a more recent development after agriculture or organized states. Some sources claim most Middle and Upper Paleolithic societies were possibly egalitarian and may have rarely engaged in organized violence, while evidence of violent conflict increases from around 10,000 years ago. Raymond C. Kelly argued that before 400,000 years ago humans clashed like chimpanzees, but later preferred peaceful relations. Lawrence H. Keeley stated approximately 90–95% of known societies throughout history engaged in at least occasional warfare.
Reader's Guide
War has been a persistent feature of human history, though its forms and frequency have changed. Since 1945, great power wars, territorial conquests, and formal war declarations have declined, yet civil wars have increased in absolute terms. Wars have become increasingly regulated by international humanitarian law, and battle deaths have declined partly due to advances in military medicine. Scholars debate whether war is in overall decline, with some like Joshua Goldstein, John Mueller, and Steven Pinker arguing it is, while Bear F. Braumoeller challenges this. The Bronze Age saw intensification of warfare with dedicated warriors and metal weapons. Charles Tilly argued that 'war made the state, and the state made war.' Types of warfare include asymmetric, biological, chemical, cold, conventional, cyber, insurgency, information, nuclear, radiological, total, and unconventional. War aims may be tangible (e.g., territory) or intangible, and serve as evaluation or propaganda tools.
Did You Know?
- The English word war derives from Proto-Germanic *werzō meaning 'mixture, confusion'.
- Since 1945, great power wars, territorial conquests, and war declarations have declined in frequency.
- Civil wars have increased in absolute terms since 1945.
- Battle deaths and casualties have declined in part due to advances in military medicine.
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