New and Old wars

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Name some reasons why "New Wars" are harder to win

1. The line between civilians and combatants often becomes blurred, particularly in conflicts such as the Iraq war post 2004 and the Syrian Civil war.

2. The fact that Guerrilla tactics often involve combatants blending in among civilians means that large firepower and modern weapons can be rendered obsolete.

3. The fact that many modern conflicts are driven by identity means that there are many combatants who would sooner die than surrender for their identity, fighting against professional soldiers.

4. Continued use of hard power which might result in the deaths of civilians by a state can severely damage its soft power.

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In what ways do old wars differ from new wars?

1. Many new wars are civil wars involving non-state actors, as opposed to the majority of old wars being fought between states.

2. Identity is often the most prominent cause of new wars, whereas old wars were often fought between states over territory or ideology.

3. Asymmetrical nature. Most new wars which involve non-state actors are highly unbalanced in terms of weaponry and man power. This is often the case with insurgent and guerrilla groups.

4. Civilian/military distinction blurred. As previously mentioned, combatants often blend in with civilians, and in many cases, civilians are deliberately targeted which was not the case in many old wars.

5. Many would argue that new wars are far more brutal and barbaric than old wars. The use of guerrilla tactics by insurgent groups and violent acts such as beheadings and suicide tactics by groups like ISIL can seem to make new wars far bloodier.

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What is an example of an old war?

1. Napoleonic wars 2. WW1 3. WW2 4. Korean War    ........ pretty much any pre 1990 conflict.

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What are some examples of new wars?

Iraq 2003, Afghanistan 2001, Yemen present day, Syria civil war 2011-present, Bosnia/Yugoslavia 1990 etc. 

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