Asymmetric Warfare - Politics and Cultures of Violence in the Modern Era

The forces that fight asymmetric wars are so distinct that one side avoids direct military confrontation in favor of political, social, or otherwise unorthodox means of resistance. These conflicts have been a mainstay of modern times, though scholars have often separated them into various designations by era. Observers have referred, in chronological order, to Indian warfare, petite guerre (small war), guerrilla warfare, irregular or revolutionary war, and terrorism. The proliferation of labels over time has obscured the continuity of asymmetric wars throughout modernity. Stark distinctions in resources and capabilities have shaped the reasons why states and societies have decided to fight, and the manner in which they have fought. Across the modern era, mismatches arose in the domains of technology, intelligence production, and law. But in recent decades, so-called weak powers have neutralized many of the typical advantages of strong military states.

List of contents

1. Introduction: learning from unfair fights; 2. Asymmetry and revolutions (1492-1815); 3. Asymmetry and empires (1815-1914); 4. Asymmetry and global wars (1914-1950); 5. Asymmetry and the cold war (1950-1990); 6. Asymmetry, rogue states, and terrorism (1990-present); 7. Leveling the asymmetric battlefield: technology, intelligence, and law.

Summary

The forces that fight asymmetric wars are so distinct that one side avoids direct military confrontation in favor of political, social, or otherwise unorthodox means of resistance. These conflicts have been a mainstay of modern times. This Element discusses how weak powers have neutralized typical advantages of strong military states.

Foreword

This Element explains the conflicts between strong state militaries and resistant peoples in the modern era.

Product details

• Authors: Jacob Hagstrom
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.05.2025
• EAN: 9781009567602
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0956760-2
• No. of pages: 84
• Dimensions: 162 mm x 235 mm x 5 mm
• Series: Print on Demand; Elements in Modern Wars
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; History: specific events & topics, HISTORY / Military / General, military history, Colonialism & imperialism, c 1500 onwards to present day, Terrorism, armed struggle, Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions, Colonialism and imperialism, Violence in society, Modern warfare, Military history: post-WW2 conflicts, The Cold War, Modern Period, C 1500 Onwards, War and defence operations, War & defence operations, Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare, Cold wars and proxy conflicts, Irregular or guerrilla forces and warfare, Civil wars, Violence, intolerance and persecution in history