I read an interesting piece in the New Scientist (Barras, 2020) about the role of warfare in developing complex civilisations. The researchers (Turchin et al., 2022) quantitatively tested several theories using a general dynamic model based on the theoretical framework of cultural macroevolution and the Seshat: Global History Databank. They tested 17 potential predictor variables… Read More
Introduction Technological development is one thing that always keeps the military moving forward. We no longer fight with swords and spears, and for good reason. For the military and the world to keep moving forward, and for the world’s militaries to be the best they can be in the modern era, tech development needs to… Read More
Introduction War is an intense armed conflict [see note below] between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterised by extreme violence, aggression, destruction, and mortality, using regular or irregular military forces. Warfare refers to the common activities and characteristics of types of war, or of wars… Read More
Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a… Read More
Introduction A war of aggression, sometimes also war of conquest, is a military conflict waged without the justification of self-defence, usually for territorial gain and subjugation. Wars without international legality (i.e. not out of self-defence nor sanctioned by the United Nations (UN) Security Council) can be considered wars of aggression; however, this alone usually does… Read More
Introduction Trench warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied fighting lines largely comprising military trenches, in which troops are well-protected from the enemy’s small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery. Trench warfare became archetypically associated with World War I (1914 to 1918), when the Race to the Sea rapidly expanded trench… Read More
In the 2020 edition of the Guinness World Records there are a range of military and military-orientated records: Shortest War (p.176): On 27 August 1896, Britain and Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) officially went to war at 09.00 am. The conflict ended after 45 minutes with Zanizbar having suffered approximately 500 casualties. First Use of… Read More
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