Mary Kaldor on New and Old Wars

Summary

Mary Caldor, a professor at the London School of Economics, explains how modern conflicts, or 'new wars,' differ drastically from traditional warfare. Unlike past wars, which were driven by clear geopolitical interests, new wars involve networks of state and non-state actors, and focus on ethnic and religious identity. These conflicts rarely feature decisive battles, with violence often targeting civilians. Financing comes from looting and manipulating humanitarian aid. Using the Syrian conflict as an example, Caldor illustrates how war economies thrive independently of political goals, making new wars a mutual enterprise rather than a contest of winning or losing.

Takeaways

• 😀 The nature of modern warfare is different from historical conceptions held by policymakers, especially in Europe.
• 😀 Modern wars, especially in regions like Africa and the Middle East, involve networks of both state and non-state actors, such as paramilitary groups and warlords, rather than regular forces.
• 😀 Ethnic and religious identity often becomes a result of war, rather than a cause, contrary to traditional views on conflict.
• 😀 In new wars, battles are rare, and the main violence is directed at civilians for political purposes, rather than focusing on decisive military encounters.
• 😀 New wars are financed through violent revenue-raising activities like looting, taxation, and even humanitarian assistance, unlike older wars, which were mainly financed through taxation.
• 😀 The logic of new wars often leads to persistent conflict, where the sides involved are more focused on sustaining the war effort than achieving a decisive victory.
• 😀 New wars can be seen as 'mutual enterprises' rather than contests of wills, where both sides are interested in maintaining the war for political or economic reasons.
• 😀 The distinction between old and new wars is crucial for understanding the dynamics of modern conflict, where both sides don't aim to win, but rather to sustain war for other purposes.
• 😀 The Syrian conflict evolved from a revolution to a war economy, with violence becoming a separate entity from the political causes.
• 😀 Violence is portrayed as the opposite of conflict in democratic societies. When conflicts cannot be managed or resolved, violence erupts, simplifying complex issues into a destructive form.

Q & A

What is the core argument presented by Mary Caldor in the transcript?

Mary Caldor argues that modern wars are different from traditional wars as perceived by policymakers. Traditional wars, according to policymakers, were modeled on European wars of the 19th and 20th centuries, while current wars, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, are driven by different dynamics, including identity and economic factors.

How does Mary Caldor define 'new wars'?

Mary Caldor defines 'new wars' as conflicts where the actors are not just regular military forces but a mix of state and non-state actors such as paramilitary groups, warlords, and other networks. These wars are also characterized by violence against civilians for political reasons, and financing through illicit activities like looting and taxing humanitarian assistance.

What distinguishes the tactics of new wars from old wars?

In new wars, battles are rare and do not serve as decisive encounters. Instead, the main violence is directed towards civilians as a means of controlling territory, while in old wars, battles were central to determining the outcome of the conflict.

What is the role of ethnic and religious identities in new wars?

In new wars, ethnic and religious identities are often constructed as a result of the war rather than being the cause of it. These identities are used for mobilizing people and sustaining the conflict.

How are new wars financed compared to old wars?

Old wars were largely financed through taxation, whereas new wars are financed through a variety of revenue-generating activities linked to violence, such as looting, taxing humanitarian aid, and engaging in illicit financial operations.

What does Mary Caldor mean by the concept of 'persistent conflict'?

Persistent conflict refers to the idea that new wars are not aimed at achieving a definitive victory. Instead, they become ongoing enterprises driven by political and economic factors, such as mobilizing people around identity or benefiting economically from the war itself.

How does Mary Caldor view the relationship between violence and conflict?

Mary Caldor argues that violence is actually the opposite of conflict. In democratic societies, conflict is seen as normal and something that can be managed. However, when conflict breaks down and cannot be resolved through negotiation, it escalates into violence.

In the context of the Syrian conflict, how does the situation reflect the characteristics of new wars?

The Syrian conflict began as a revolution but escalated into a war involving various actors, including jihadists and paramilitary groups. The Assad regime's response, including violent crackdowns and the release of criminals, transformed the conflict into an ongoing war economy, where violence became separate from the political goals of the revolution.

Why does Mary Caldor describe new wars as 'mutual enterprises'?

New wars are described as 'mutual enterprises' because the two sides in these conflicts are not focused on winning or losing, but rather on sustaining the war itself. This can be driven by the need to mobilize people around identities or for economic gain.

What implications does the nature of new wars have for policy making?

The nature of new wars suggests that traditional methods of conflict resolution may not be effective. Since these wars are driven by identity politics and economic factors, policymakers need to adopt new strategies that address the complexities of these conflicts, rather than viewing them as traditional wars with clear-cut winners and losers.