| ID | 167119 |
| Title Proper | Introduction |
| Other Title Information | re-visioning war and the state in the twenty-first century |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | German, Tracey |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Russia's actions in Ukraine, the rise (and apparent fall) of Islamic State in Syria and northern Iraq, and Chinese activity in the South China Sea have kindled renewed debate about the character of war and conflict, and whether it is undergoing a fundamental shift. Such reflections and assertions about the apparent transformation of conflict are not new; one of the enduring features of conflict over the centuries has been its state of flux. What is new is the pace of such change, accelerated by the ongoing technological and communications revolution. Individuals can now communicate and engage with one another across state boundaries to an unprecedented extent and in new ways, adding to the complexity of the international environment. The debate about whether the character of conflict is changing is not a purely philosophical pursuit: it has real-world implications, for how states envision the character of conflict shapes how they plan and prepare for war, from defence policy to procurement and from doctrine to training. Thus, it is imperative to consider the types of conflict in which states perceive themselves to be, or risk becoming, involved. That is what this special issue of International Affairs sets out to do, exploring how different states plan for and predict the future character of war and conflict, how the experiences of individual states foster different visions of future conflict and how states envisage military force being used, either by themselves or by potential adversaries. |
| `In' analytical Note | International Affairs Vol. 95, No.4; Jul 2019: p.759–763 |
| Journal Source | International Affairs Vol: 95 No 4 |
| Key Words | Twenty-first century ; War and the State |