| What
is total war? Definitions abound, but one thing is certain
— the concept of total war has come to be seen as a
defining concept of the modern age. Celebrated historian Jeremy
Black explores the rise and demise of an era of total war,
which he defines in terms of the intensity of the struggle,
the range (geographical and/or chronological) of conflict,
the nature of the goals, and the extent to which civil society
was involved. He contends that this era (roughly 1860-1945)
was markedly different from the warfare that characterized
earlier periods; and that it is very different from the situation
that has evolved since, with its emphasis on asymmetrical
conflict and limited warfare.
Acknowledging
that various definitions are problematic and often contradictory,
Black argues that 1860 to 1945 was an era in which the prospect
of war and the consequences of it were "crucially important
for human history." He focuses primarily on conflict
between Western powers, including Japanese participation in
the Russo-Japanese War. Trends and developments subsequent
to 1945 have combined, Black asserts, to make a return to
total war unlikely.
Jeremy Black, author of more than forty books
on military history and international affairs, is Professor
of History at Exeter University in the United Kingdom.
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