Abstract This paper analyzes the major ideas in the text "Warfare and Society in Europe, 1792-1914". It explains reasons for shifts in European power between Napoleon's fall and the onset of World War I. The paper discusses the evolution of warfare.
From the Paper "This research examines Wawro's War and Society in Europe which covers the period from the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution to the onset of the Great War in. The research will set forth the pattern of ideas in the work and then discuss the weight of ..."
Tags:Warfare Society Europe, Geoffrey Wawro, Napoleon
Abstract The paper discusses the issue of terrorism as being the most stringent aspect of international politics, since the events of 2001 proved that terrorism is by no means a conventional threat and a conventional war cannot be waged against it. The paper states that it is important that a comprehensive approach on the matter be taken into consideration. The paper further discusses that the United States has been promoting a complex counter terrorism policy which includes the combination of various aspects of foreign policy. The paper focuses on the fact that pursuing a military unconventional warfare strategy in a diplomatic environment will only work, if there is synergy within the United States Government.
From the Paper "One of the first aspects to be taken into account is the issue of the global nature of the terrorist threat. In this sense, the United States has been widely considered a worldwide approach on the matter. This method of dealing with terrorism is obvious in the 2006 National Strategy for Combating Terrorism. More precisely, the document drew the guidelines for the activities of the US Government in its attempt to address the issue of terrorism. In this sense, among other aspects, the policy considers that action must be taken in order to "advance effective democracies as the long-term antidote to the ideology of terrorism; prevent attacks by terrorist networks; deny terrorists the support and sanctuary of rogue states; deny terrorists control of any nation they would use as a base and launching pad for terror; and lay the foundations and build the institutions and structures we need to carry the fight forward against terror and help ensure our ultimate success" . All these measures are taken in relation to two distinctive paths of action which in order to be effective, must be interlinked and combined. These two directions are the military and the diplomatic one."
Abstract This paper looks at the harrowing effects of chemical warfare and how it changed the face of war during WWI. It gives examples of the types of weaponry used, their side effects and how these have developed to become the destructive arms of today.
From the Paper "According to many of the period's experts, WWI was supposed to be fought by large numbers of men, in a heroic fashion, with the other technologically advanced weapons such as planes, machine-guns and tanks. Instead of the 'normal' war of the attacker winning and the defender put on the run, this war was interrupted by trench warfare and battles of attrition. Trenches were the norm, and to help get battles back to 'natural' means, gas was put into practice to help each side get back into (in their eyes at the time) a more modern conflict. So what were these chemical weapons? How and when were they used? What role did they play in the soldier's day-to-day life both physically and psychologically? "
Tags: bombs, chemicals, france, gas, germany, hague, history, military, trench, war, warfare, wwi
Abstract By analyzing Charles Frazier's novel "Cold Mountain" on the American Civil War, the paper shows the methods used by the guerillas and what life was like for them. The paper also examines whether the Home Guard and guerilla warfare were accurately portrayed in the novel.
From the Paper "Cold Mountain's portrayal of the Home Guard is that of a rough and ragged group of vigilante man-hunters who dispense a brand of justice that suits their own needs and whims. From the outset of Inman's journey to freedom, he is constantly under watch for the notorious Home Guard. The Home Guard in Cold Mountain answers to no higher authority than their self, often acting in the book as judge, jury and executioner. Often enough in the book, they are not concerned about the identities of those men they capture and kill. This is shown several times throughout the novel. Many times the men of the Home Guard seem as nothing more than a rabble, but at other times they can appear quite organized. The Home Guard appears very effective in their pursuit, displaying an adeptness at hunting down and capturing their prey. There is also a sense of morbid pleasure in the men as they go about hunting and inflicting pain on others."
Abstract This paper addresses the changes in American Indian warfare during the period of western settlement in the 19th century. It gives a summary of Plains Indian culture and reasons for conflict, and details conflicts between settlers and American Indian tribes. The paper's thesis, borne out in historical research, is that the introduction of horses and firearms made conflicts between US relocation forces and unwilling Indian tribesmen bloodier than necessary on both sides. The author does not take sides on the Native American sovereignty issue.
Abstract This paper describes chemical warfare in insects. The paper begins by offering a definition of the chemistry of vision. Next the paper discusses the role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cancer. Then the paper explains the effect of chlorfluorocarbons on the ozone layer, nature, chemistry and sources of petroleum.
Tags: chemical warfare among insects, chemistry of vision, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons and cancer, chlorofluorocarbons and the ozone hole, petroleum
Abstract The paper reviews asymmetric information and discusses how the failure of Canadian policy makers to appreciate it as a symptom of market failure, made it all too easy for them to later overlook it as a fundamental cause of the decline of a major Canadian airline subsidized by Transport Canada. Beyond that, the paper also examines how this malaise affected Transport Canada's curious inability to find the information it needed in both security matters and when it came time to privatize some of its holdings.
From the Paper "The relationship between asymmetric information (which is essentially one party in free market transactions knowing more than the other party) and market failure has arguably been under-acknowledged by policy makers throughout the history of the modern bureaucratic state - at least in matters pertaining to the state's involvement in the dispensation of "merit goods" to a public that may, for a host of reasons, be unreceptive to whatever it is that the state considers "meritorious"."
Abstract The conduct of warfare underwent many dramatic changes over the course of the Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865. In the early years, the battlefield was dynamic, and the armies maneuvered and engaged at will; many units, especially Confederate, fielding smooth-bore muskets and cannon. As these weapons were improved with rifling, their effective killing distance became greater. This paper examines how the most dramatic change in the way warfare was conducted came during the Battle of Petersburg (1864-65). The paper shows how this siege was militarily significant in that it began the trend of the trench warfare that changed the way warfare was conducted during World War I.
From the Paper "This tactic became outdated with the development of improved firearm technology in the mid-19th century. When the American Civil War began in 1861, it was fought with similar weapons and tactics that had been used for many centuries. By the time the war ended in 1865, it was seen as a foreshadowing of World War I?complete with trenches, machine guns, field fortifications, and massive casualties. The Battle of Petersburg near the end of the war with its trenches and static formations, changed the strategies of warfare, as it was radically different that early battles such as the First Battle of Bull Run where maneuver was still possible, and famous charges such as Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg, demonstrated the military uselessness of a direct assault on an opposing line."
Tags: Fredericksburg, Cold, Harbor, General, Ulysses, S., Grant
Abstract An examination of the changing nature of warfare between 1860 and 1960 and a look at the reasons for these changes. The paper also attempts to define the change in the structure of wars over this period of time by considering whether wars are always decided by one major battle, or if there are more complicated factors to explain the outcomes of each war.
Table of Contents
Analysis of the American Civil War
European conflicts-Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars.
The Boer War-colonialism and the development of guerilla warfare.
The surprise victory of the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese conflict.
The reasons for the Allied victories in the First and Second World Wars-how technology was implicated.
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954-the importance of environmental knowledge in warfare.
From the Paper "In 1909, F.T. Marinetti stated that, 'We will glorify war-the world's only hygiene-militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for, and scorn for woman.' This belief in the glory of war held by many at the turn of the century, was completely changed with the horrific events of two world wars in 1914 and 1939. Indeed, the basic principle of the concept known as 'total war' practised throughout many twentieth century conflicts was largely unheard of in the previous century. In contrast to the majority of conflicts in the nineteenth century, the distinction between civilians and soldiers of the twentieth century became increasingly blurred. In examining past wars we can observe that changes have taken place both regarding the principles and technology of war. "
Abstract In this report the writer explains chemical warfare and list the types of agents which can be used. It describes how a person is affected and the great potential hazards and dangers. The writer provides an overview of historical cases when chemical warfare has been used and explains how it's transmitted. The paper gives specific examples of certain types, and lastly, looks at how a person can be protected from chemical warfare.
From the Paper "On April 22 in 1915, six thousand pressurized cylinders full of chlorine gas were released into the wind near the Belgian village of Ypres. The chlorine floated in huge clouds slowly being carried by the wind until it reached an ally army to Germany, then killing 10,000 soldiers. Because of the amount of gas released the chlorine caused large amounts of yellowish fluid to form in the lungs of the soldiers causing them to choke to death. Germany attacked again another two days later killing another 5,000 soldiers with chlorine gas. This was the first chemical weapon attack in history and chlorine was the first chemical agent. Since then there have been a handful more times when chemicals have been used to attack other people and with the terrorist attacks on 9-11 Americans know the fear of chemicals being used against us. In this report I will explain chemical warfare, list the types, describe how a person is affected, explain when they’ve been used, explain how it’s transmitted, give specific examples of certain types, and lastly, how a person is protected from chemical warfare."
Abstract This paper explains how, before the application of gunpowder, war and warfare was powered by human effort with the assistance of various forms of armor and hand-wielded weapons, such as swords and spears. This paper provides an historical overview of warfare and is divided into two sections, 1200-1600 and 1600-1850. It looks at the way gunpowder affected these two time periods differently.
From the Paper "By the time of the Crusades in Europe and the conquests of the Moors in Spain, the knowledge and use of gunpowder had spread far and wide. In 1247, the city of Seville was defended by cannon which ejected stone projectiles; in 1267, English philosopher and writer Francis Bacon penned Opus Tertium in which, for the first time in Europe, the components of gunpowder was described. This work, as Kenneth Allen points out, is considered to be the basis upon which Berthold Schwartz, a monk from Friburg, Germany, "further experimented with gunpowder's propulsive properties that led to the development of cannon in Germany after 1300 A.D." (1973). At this time, cannon and other weaponry which used gunpowder were virtually unknown to most European soldiers and military officials and artillery that utilized gunpowder did not exert any great influence on warfare until sometime after 1300 A.D."
Abstract This papers isolates some of Clausewitz's core ideas about warfare and then demonstrates how modern warfare has been affected by these ideas. As examples, the writer draws on Nazi Germany - where military theorists misapplied some of Clausewitz's core ideas - and the modern age of warfare - characterized by technology and terrorism.
From the Paper "Unlike other war historians and strategists, Clausewitz avoided maxims. Reading his central text, On War, is not like reading Sun Tzu. Clausewitz's understanding of warfare was more complicated. It relied on the central tenet that war was an integral part of the world order. Thus, he felt war should be studied and analyzed, not simply avoided as being distasteful (Cannon par. 13). Clausewitz's philosophy attempted to build an understanding of war as it fit into the larger function of society. It was important to understand how wars were won, and what war's purpose was in the larger scheme of things."
Abstract The paper discusses how war machines date back to ancient times, with the development of the Roman helepolis. The paper examines how the reality of mechanized warfare entered the modern conscious with the development and deployment of tanks in the two World Wars. The paper explores how, in the World Wars tanks were important, not merely because they represented an important technological advance, but more importantly because they allowed a shift from attrition tactics to maneuver tactics. The paper concludes that the invention of highly lethal and well armored cavalry-like units allowed modern warfare to embrace many of the ancient tactics which, became the basis of the 'revolutionary' Nazi blitzkrieg warfare.
From the Paper "Tanks particularly served to enable an increase in the operational tempo of the European arena at the end of the first World War and the beginning of the second. It was this shift in tempo that was directly responsible for the devastating victories by the German forces which nearly left Europe entirely in Nazi hands. Though tacticians have long understood that Germany's victories were due to a shift in military paradigm relative to that of the beginning of World War I, it was not until recently that the term "operational tempo" came into use and that the influential work of retired Air Force Colonel John Boyd pointed out that the success of this movement stemmed as much from its effects on the psyche of the adversary as from its own brute force."
Abstract This paper discusses the concept of preemptive warfare and the explication of its goals as they are outlined in a September 2002 White House publication entitled "The National Security Strategy of the United States of America." The paper describes the arguments for and against preemptive warfare and concludes that most arguments against preemptive warfare are understandable, but unsound in light of the dual threat of rogue states and trans-national terrorism.
From the Paper "Most arguments against preemptive warfare are understandable but unsound in light of the dual threat of rogue states and trans-national terrorism. The war in Iraq was justified in spite of the faulty intelligence, as it will ultimately weaken the potential of terror networks to use Iraq as a base. Preemptive warfare has not been used indiscriminately, or else the United States would have also struck at targets throughout the world wherever terrorist cells are known to operate. Arguments against preemptive strikes often criticize American hegemony, but American hegemony makes global security possible. More than any other single nation, the United States has the potential to combat the worldwide threat of terrorism and will make the world a safer place."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that warfare in ancient times is understood by records of civilizations, which often exaggerate their wins and accomplishments for purposes of bolstering an ancient civilization's perception of their king or leader. The writer discusses that as time passes, and more information is studied and compared against the still emerging body of archeological data, it is possible to better understand the state of warfare in ancient civilizations. The extent to which warfare was waged in ancient times continues to be debated, but the historical and archeological evidence has begun to reveal that when war did occur, it was on a scale that often times completely altered or transformed the civilization in which it occurred. The writer maintains that it would be fair to say that mankind's propensity for waging war is one that can be traced to the ancient tribes of every civilization on earth. It might also be surmised, especially given the role of religious deities and pagan beliefs, that the impetus to make war arose out of superstition as much as it did out of the need to offset nature with resources.
Outline:
Introduction
Ancient Egypt
The Mesoamerica Ancient Civilizations
Conclusion
From the Paper "Even with this information, there remain volumes of unanswered questions, the answers to which can only be speculated about at this time. While the written and archeological data of some civilizations, such as the Egyptians, have left us with a wealth of information, it still must be translated and taken into consideration as to the goals the ancients themselves had in the writings. As has been previously noted here, the ancient Egyptians had a tendency to exaggerate war wins for the benefit of the powerful.
"An examination of a ancient civilizations where the writings and archeological data are not as voluminous as ancient Egypt or Rome, means that much of what is concluded form the artifacts is based on historians' and archeologists' experiences with other ancient civilizations, like Egypt, Greece, and Rome."
