This article is written by Ms. Anjali Singh Bagri, a Third-year student of NMIMS, Indore.
ABSTRACT
This study explores the idea of total war, looking at its historical forebears and considering its applicability now. The primary attribute of total war is the absence of differentiation between legitimate fighters and non-combatants. Total war is ideological from the outset, primarily because the governed must be convinced that the sacrifices they are asked to make are for a just cause rather than, as is usually the case, to consolidate the rulers’ authority. It is a tactic in which armies employ any methods necessary to prevail, even if those means are morally or ethically dubious under normal combat conditions. Not only is the adversary to be destroyed, but they are also to be so demoralized that they cannot fight anymore. This article seeks to offer light on the development and continuing significance of total war by examining historical examples and making comparisons with contemporary conflicts.
INTRODUCTION
Total war, the term emerged due to the two world wars giving rise to a new classification of war. The term was coined for the first time by a Frenchman, Leon Daudet during the ending years of the First World War. It is defined as a war in which the entire population, military as well as civilians, and all the nations’ resources are committed to complete victory and thus become legitimate military targets. Except for the two wars of the 20th century, namely, world war one and World War second, all other wars in history have been limited, in that they haven’t used all of the societies’ energy and haven’t gone so far as to demand complete surrender from any side. One can wage a total war unilaterally, bilateral or multilateral, and it is distinguished by the lack of regulations or constraint in the planning and carrying out of military action to achieve unbounded political goals. There is no motivation to give up even when defeat is unavoidable since it forbids surrender.
Total war is ideological from the outset, primarily because the governed must be convinced that the sacrifices they are asked to make are for a just cause rather than, as is usually the case, to consolidate the rulers’ authority. This could entail focusing on important infrastructure and preventing people from accessing imports, water, or the internet (often by erecting blockades). Furthermore, there is no restriction on the kinds of weapons that can be employed in total war; biological, chemical, nuclear, and other WMDs can all be unleashed.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE TOTAL WAR
The two World Wars saw the continuation of total war, which started in the Middle Ages. Although there have long been political, religious, and cultural conventions dictating who should and should not be targeted in battle, until the Geneva Conventions, which established International Humanitarian Law (IHL), there was no international treaty outlining the laws of war.
- TOTAL WAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES:
Some of the first and most prominent examples of total war occurred in the Middle Ages, during the Crusades, a series of holy battles conducted in the 11th century. It is estimated that more than a million individuals perished during this time. Many communities were burnt and ransacked by soldiers protecting their own religions. To utterly remove the foundation of their enemies’ support, entire cities’ worth of people were killed.
The 13th-century Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan employed a comprehensive battle tactic. He established the Mongol Empire, which expanded as he and his armies swept over Northeast Asia, capturing towns and executing vast swathes of their populace. As a result, the vanquished cities were unable to mount a rebellion since they lacked the manpower and supplies necessary. Khan’s greatest invasion, against the Khwarazmian Empire, is among the best illustrations of his application of this style of warfare. He dispatched tens of thousands of soldiers throughout the empire to execute all the populace without exception and enslave others so they could be used as human shields in ensuing conflicts. According to this “scorched earth” doctrine, preventing the enemy from launching a second attack is the surest path to victory in a conflict.
- TOTAL WAR IN THE 18TH AND THE 19TH CENTURY:
The Revolutionary Tribunal, sometimes known as “The Terror,” carried out acts of absolute war during the French Revolution. Anyone who did not demonstrate ardent and unwavering support for the Revolution was put to death by the Tribunal during this time. While awaiting trial, many more people also passed away in prison. It is estimated that throughout the course of the twenty-year Napoleonic Wars that followed the revolution, five million people perished. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte gained notoriety for his brutality during this period.
Sherman’s March to the Sea, which took place during the American Civil battle, is another well-known instance of total battle. Union Major General William T. Sherman marched his forces towards Savannah and the Atlantic Ocean after effectively seizing Atlanta, Georgia. In order to destroy the plantations, which were the foundation of the South’s economy, General Sherman and Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant set fire to and attacked minor towns along this road. By demolishing the Confederates’ infrastructure and demoralising them, this tactic aimed to prevent both people and soldiers from mobilising for the war effort.
- THE WORLD WARS: TOTAL WARS AND THE HOME FRONT
During World War I, nations used rationing, military propaganda, and forced conscription—all of which can be components of total war—to organise their own civilian population for the war effort. To support the war effort, people who had not given their assent were forced to give up food, resources, money, and time. Regarding the war itself, the US launched a four-year blockade of Germany that starved both civilians and soldiers and severely hindered the country’s ability to obtain supplies. Apart from impeding the supply of food and agricultural products, the embargo also limited their ability to purchase weapons from abroad.
Conscription and civilian mobilization were used by both the Allies and the Axis forces during World War II, just like in the previous conflict. Rationing and propaganda persisted, and to make up for the human capital lost during the conflict, civilians were required to put in more overtime.
To speed up the end of the war, the Allies targeted German citizens, much like they did in World War I. Due to its status as one of Germany’s industrial centres, Dresden was firebombed by American and British forces. The nation’s aircraft factories, rail network, and other resources were all devastated in the bombardment.
KEY ELEMENTS
- MILATARY MOBILIZATION
- ECONOMIC MOBILIZATION
- ROLE OF PROPOGANDA
- CIVILIAN INVOLVEMENT
- TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
EVOLUTION OF TOTAL WAR IN THE CONTEMPORARY ERA
Total war has always been a terrifying event, and it has shaped modern warfare. This has never been truer than in the West. Beyond the experience of two world wars, the prospect of a third, cataclysmic conflict has loomed large in the thoughts of Western military personnel and society at large. It says volumes about the impact of World War I on Western culture as a whole that the carnage of the conflict is still vividly remembered in the public consciousness more than eight decades later, when only a small number of veterans remain to relate the story firsthand. Following both world wars, there was a reluctance to go to war among both the victorious and the defeated. .The winners were, in fact, the ones who heard the interwar chant of “never again” the loudest. Professionals in the military were also not exempt. Strategists looked for fresh approaches to prevent future conflicts from becoming into full-scale conflicts following both world wars.
The idea of total war has gained fresh significance in the twenty-first century as international relations and conflict dynamics have changed. This section examines the modern aspects of total war, highlighting significant factors that have influenced the nature of battle in the last several years.
- CYBER WARFARE AND TOTAL CONFLICTS
The modern period sees the battlefield expanding into the digital sphere in addition to conventional battlegrounds. The boundaries between the military and the civilian spheres are becoming increasingly hazy due to the integration of cyberwarfare and information operations into contemporary conflicts. States launch complex cyberattacks to take down enemy networks, compromise vital infrastructure, and obtain tactical advantages. This type of total conflict is further complicated by the employment of disinformation efforts to sway public opinion, which has an international impact on societies.
- ECONOMIC TOOL: SANCTIONS AND BEYOND
Conflicts can have far-reaching economic effects in an era of more interconnectedness. Today, total war entails manipulating international economic networks in addition to deploying military and industrial resources. The modern total war toolset includes economic espionage, trade conflicts, and sanctions as weapons. The economic effects of conflict extend beyond the countries immediately involved and have an impact on the entire world economy.
- ASYMMETRIC WARFARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Conflict has a different character now that non-state players, especially terrorist groups, are more prevalent. These actors use asymmetric warfare techniques, aiming to terrorise and interfere with the operations of society by attacking both civilian and military populations. Such dangers frequently call for all-encompassing responses, such as intelligence gathering, military actions, and domestic policy adjustments. Total war theory has been modified for modern times, as seen by the instability of these battles and the participation of non-state entities.
CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE AND IMPLICATIONS
Cyberwarfare has far-reaching effects that go beyond conventional military considerations. Attacks on communication networks, banking institutions, and vital infrastructure can topple countries and cause social unrest and economic downturns. The difficulty is in creating effective defences against ever-evolving cyberthreats and negotiating the hazy boundaries between illicit businesses and state-sponsored activity.
Conventional military forces have distinct obstacles due to the asymmetry of these battles. It necessitates changing tactics and building counterinsurgency capacities. Furthermore, the involvement of non-state players makes it more difficult to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, which raises moral questions and makes it more difficult to implement international humanitarian law.
The economic repercussions of total conflict are far-reaching. Sanctions have the power to completely destroy economies, hurting not just the targeted countries but also their trading partners. Because of this delicate balance created by economic interdependence, disagreements can have a cascading effect of economic downturns. Strategic foresight is necessary to navigate these difficulties and avoid unforeseen outcomes.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the idea of total war, which has historical roots, still influences contemporary conflicts. It has changed over time, engaging entire communities in the unrelenting goal of triumph, from the Crusades to the World Wars. Total war is an ideological concept that was coined following World War I and demands sacrifice from the population.
It takes many forms, as seen by historical examples ranging from Genghis Khan to Sherman’s March. Propaganda, economic restructuring, and hitherto unseen levels of military and civilian mobilisation were all on display during World Wars I and II.
Key factors including military mobilisation, economic shifts, propaganda, citizen involvement, and technical breakthroughs define total war’s complexity. These days, asymmetric warfare with non-state actors poses new difficulties, economic instruments influence international networks, and cyberwarfare enlarges the theatre of operations.
Having strategic vision is essential. It is essential to have strong cyber defences, flexible military tactics, and an understanding of global economic interdependence. In a linked world, conflict resolution requires complex approaches, which are informed by historical precedents.
Military strategists, policymakers, and world leaders use historical lessons to help them navigate the complexity of total conflict in the modern world. Nations can mitigate the catastrophic effects of total war while attempting to resolve problems by adjusting to the current circumstances.
REFERENCES:
This article was originally written by Hugh Bicheno published by oxford university press. The link for the same is herein https://faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~tpilsch/INTA4803TP/Articles/Total%20War-definition&discussion.pdf
This article was originally written by William J. Philpott published by palgrave advances. The link for the same is herein https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230625372_8
This article was originally written by Brionne Frazier and published on thought Co. The link for the same is herein https://www.thoughtco.com/total-war-definition-examples-4178116#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways,and%20the%20two%20World%20Wars.
This article was originally written by Oleksandra Mamchii published on best diplomats. The link for the same is herein https://bestdiplomats.org/what-is-total-war/
This article was originally written by William Mulligan published on JSTOR. The link for the same is herein https://www.jstor.org/stable/26070766
This article was originally written byColin mcinnes. The link for the same is herein https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781626370135-003/html?lang=en
This article was originally written and published on khan academy. The link for the same is herein https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/whp-origins/era-7-the-great-convergence-and-divergence-1880-ce-to-the-future/71-world-war-1-betaa/a/read-world-war-i-a-total-war-beta
This article was originally written and published on lumen learning. The link for the same is herein https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/total-war/
This article was originally written and published on new world encyclopaedia. The link for the same is herein https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Total_war