( War in Kosovo , 2000)
Military conflict ( in the narrow sense ) is a type of armed confrontation between states or social communities (or within them), within the framework of which an attempt is made to resolve the existing economic, political or social contradictions by the limited use of military force [1] [2] . In a number of publications, this interpretation of the term “ military conflict ” is used as a synonym for the concept of “ armed conflict ”; in foreign military terminology, it resembles the term “ low-intensity conflict ” [1] .
It is noted that sometimes it is not easy to draw a clear line between a local war and a military conflict , but historical experience shows that, in contrast to local wars, military conflicts are characterized by much smaller forces involved in hostilities, as well as a smaller scale and intensity of hostilities. Moreover, modern science postulates the existence of a fundamental difference between a local war and a military conflict , which consists in the fact that war is one of the states of the state, while military conflict is the state of its armed forces or even some separate parts thereof [3] [4] .
The essence of the concept
A military conflict in the narrow sense implies a specific form of military violence , which, like a war, has a political connotation, but in contrast to it, the pursued goals of the conflicting parties are limited, situational or local in nature. Particular factors, for example, territorial disputes, national-ethnic, religious contradictions, etc., which rarely have a fundamental or deep essence, can become the reason for the emergence and development of a military conflict [1] . As a rule, in the course of such a confrontation, the opponents do not endanger the vital interests or the fact of each other’s existence, do not attempt to change the integrity of the political system, economic system, etc. In such circumstances, the struggle unfolds for some economic benefits or political strategic advantages for transforming the military-political balance at the regional level or changing existing relations between opponents [1] .
The absence of large-scale political goals leads to serious restrictions on the scale of the use of military force, which limits not only the scope of hostilities, but also determines their localization in a certain spatial framework, for example, in border zones, in certain areas, in remote territories, etc. to participate directly in the clashes are utilized not all the possibilities of the armed forces of the conflicting parties, but only some of them under the dominance of a single species of the armed forces and and kind of troops . Very often, a special role is played by special rapid reaction forces, peacekeeping troops, irregular and rebel formations, mercenaries, etc. [1]
A characteristic feature of a military conflict is the absence of a radical restructuring of all the processes of social life that occurs during wars. Usually, any war is preceded by long-term advance preparation and a set of mobilization measures throughout the country; during military conflicts this is not observed [2] . However, although military conflicts almost do not affect the everyday state of society, they significantly transform the routine life of the armed forces and other military institutions, which leads to more severe centralization, strict discipline, increased combat readiness , etc. [1]
Similarly, in the course of military conflicts , international legal means that are characteristic almost exclusively for the state of war may not be used: breaking trade and diplomatic relations, confiscating property, imposing special sanctions on citizens of the opposing side, etc. [1]
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2. Military conflict // Military Encyclopedia / I. D. Sergeev . - Moscow: Military Publishing House, 1999. - V. 4. - S. 165-166. - ISBN 5-203-01876-6 .
- ↑ 1 2 Military conflict // Soviet Military Encyclopedia . - Moscow: Military Publishing House of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR Union, 1979. - T. 4. - P. 331.
- ↑ Introduction // Local wars: history and modernity / I.E. Shavrov . - M .: Military Publishing , 1981. - S. 9. - 304 p.
- ↑ On the classification and system of local wars and military conflicts // Local wars: history and modernity / I. E. Shavrov. - M .: Military Publishing , 1981. - S. 19. - 304 p.
Further reading
- Rogozin D. Military (local) conflict . Dictionary dictionary “War and peace in terms and definitions” . Information site voina-i-mir.ru . Date of treatment September 2, 2017.