Classification of Wars Flashcards
War of Aggression
A war in which one side simply attacks the other
A Punitive War
A war fought to punish the other side from some real or imagined aggression in the past
aka a war of revenge
A Pre-emptive War
A war which is actually offensive but for which defensive reasons are claimed. Country A attacks Country B as A believes/claims to believe that B was about to attack A.
An Ideological War
A war in which the two sides are divided by ideology and this difference is a major factor in the character of war.
Imperial Wars/Colonial Wars
These are wars fought by imperial powers to acquire or safeguard colonies
War of National Liberation/War of Decolonization
These are wars where colonies struggle to obtain their independence
A Proxy War
A war that is fought between states on behalf of other states. This way the two super powers vied for advantage without direct confrontation or risks to each other.
A Guerrilla Warfare
This type of war is mainly fought in hilly/mountainous terrain. This type of war usually but not always evokes images of radical left or right wing militant groups inspired by ideologies (ex. Marxism), and the aim is to overthrow the governments of the period and establish a military regime.
A Total War
This is the full utilization of all available resources, i.e. Human, economic and military to enable countries to win wars. A war without restraints or limits.
Theatres of War
These are the places where the war takes place (ex. the battlefield). An examination of a total war also involves a look at the multiple theatres of war. It can be in the air as well.
A Limited War
A war that is only fought between direct parties and not multiple parties within the same war. Meaning that there would be less of a need for human, economic and military resources as war wouldn’t be the main focus of the country/region.
Example of an Ideological War
A Holy War
Example of Imperial/Colonial
The Boers War
Example of War of National Liberation/Decolonization
The Spanish American War of Independence (1898)
Example of A Proxy War
The wars during the cold war
