Mockaitis, Thomas R. Conventional und Unconventional War

A History of Conflict in the Modern World

This volume offers a comprehensive history of warfare since 1648, covering conventional and unconventional operations and showing how most modern wars have been hybrid affairs involving both. The book draws on a wide range of conflicts to examine the social forces that have shaped wars. Written by military historian Thomas R. Mockaitis, this book examines conventional and unconventional conflicts and considers the relationships between them. It explores how epic battles such as the American Civil War, the First and Second World Wars, and the conflicts in the Middle East, among many others, have shaped human history. Four themes are highlighted: the relationship between armed forces and the societies from which they emerge; the influence of technology (not just weaponry) on warfare; the role of ideas and attitudes toward violence in determining why and how wars are fought; and the relationship between conventional and unconventional operations. The book also covers the emergence and evolution of unconventional warfare, including counterinsurgency, the war on terror, and the current conflicts in the Middle East. It concludes with reflections on the forms that armed conflict will take in the future. The book includes valuable excerpts from the writings of military strategists such as Clausewitz and Sun Tzu, an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and supporting maps and diagrams.