Abstract:Posing the most serious challenge to international security today, fourth-generation warfare (4GW) uses all available networks – political, economic, social and military – to convince the enemy's poli...Posing the most serious challenge to international security today, fourth-generation warfare (4GW) uses all available networks – political, economic, social and military – to convince the enemy's political decision-makers that their strategic goals are either unachievable or too costly for the perceived benefit. It is rooted in the fundamental precept that superior political will, when properly employed, can defeat greater economic and military power. 4GW does not attempt to win by defeating the enemy's military forces. Instead, combining guerrilla tactics or civil disobedience with the soft networks of social, cultural and economic ties, disinformation campaigns and innovative political activity, it directly attacks the enemy's political will. Over the past 50 years, 4GW has defeated superpowers in Vietnam, Somalia, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Chechnya. Each time, using protracted campaigns, the insurgents defeated the will of the enemy rather than his military. In sum, 4GW is political, socially (rather than technically) networked and protracted in duration. It is the antithesis of the high-technology, short war the Pentagon is preparing to fight.Read More
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 61
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