scholarly journals Twelve Insights into the Afghanistan War through the Photographs from the Basetrack Project: Rita Leistner’s iProbes and Marshall McLuhan’s Theory of Media

Arts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Kalina Kukielko-Rogozinska
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Marshall Mcluhan ◽  
American Military ◽  
War Photography ◽  
Military Equipment ◽  
Photographic Analysis ◽  
Contemporary Media ◽  
Modern Warfare ◽  
Modern War

This article presents the iProbe concept developed by the Canadian photographer Rita Leistner. This analytical tool is one of the ways to present the image of modern warfare that emerges from messages in social media and photographs taken using smartphones. Utilized to understand the approach are photographs Leistner took at the American military base in Musa Qala (Helmand province, Afghanistan) during the implementation of the “Basetrack” media project in 2011. The theoretical basis for this study is Marshall McLuhan’s media theory, which was used by the photographer to interpret her works from Afghanistan. Leistner is the first to apply the various concepts shaped by McLuhan in the second half of 20th century, such as “probe”, “extension of man”, and the “figure/ground” dichotomy, to analyze war photography. Her blog and book entitled Looking for Marshall McLuhan in Afghanistan shows the potential of using McLuhan’s concepts to interpret the image of modern warfare presented in the contemporary media. The application of McLuhan’s theory to this type of photographic analysis provides the opportunity to focus on the technological dimension of modern war and to look at warfare from a technical perspective such as what devices and communication solutions are used to solve armed conflicts as efficiently and bloodlessly as possible. Therefore, this article briefly presents twelve iProbes that Leistner created based on her experiences from working in Afghanistan concerning photography, military equipment, interpersonal relations, and various types of communication.

Современный образ войны и проблема ее трасформации

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
D. A. Abgadzhava ◽  
A. S. Vlaskina
Keyword(s):  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Social Progress ◽  
The Political ◽  
Military Conflict ◽  
The Past ◽  
Advanced Technologies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Boundaries ◽  
Modern War

War is an essential part of the social reality inherent in all stages of human development: from the primitive communal system to the present, where advanced technologies and social progress prevail. However, these characteristics do not make our society more peaceful, on the contrary, according to recent research and reality, now the number of wars and armed conflicts have increased, and most of the conflicts have a pronounced local intra-state character. Thus, wars in the classical sense of them go back to the past, giving way to military and armed conflicts. Now the number of soldiers and the big army doesn’t show the opponents strength. What is more important is the fact that people can use technology, the ideological and informational base to win the war. According to the history, «weak» opponent can be more successful in conflict if he has greater cohesion and ideological unity. Modern wars have already transcended the political boundaries of states, under the pressure of certain trends, they are transformed into transnational wars, that based on privatization, commercialization and obtaining revenue. Thus, the present paper will show a difference in understanding of terms such as «war», «military conflict» and «armed conflict». And also the auteurs will tell about the image of modern war and forecasts for its future transformation.

Complex Battlespaces

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Modern Warfare ◽  
Aerial Systems

The conduct of warfare is constantly shaped by forces beyond the battlefield. These forces create complexities in the battlespace for military operations. The ever-changing nature of how and where wars are fought creates challenges for the application of the unchanging body of international law that regulates armed conflicts. The term “complex” is often used to describe modern warfare, but what makes modern warfare complex? Is it the increasingly urbanized battlefield where wars are fought, which is cluttered with civilians and civilian objects? Is it the rise of State-like organized armed groups that leverage the governance vacuum created by failed or failing States? Is it the introduction of new technologies to military operations like autonomous weapons, cyber capabilities, and unmanned aerial systems? Or is it the application of multiple legal regimes to a single conflict? Collectively, these questions formed the basis for the Complex Battlespaces Workshop in which legal scholars and experts from the field of practice came together to discuss these complexities. During the workshop, there was a general consensus that the existing law was sufficient to regulate modern warfare. The challenge, however, arises in application of the law to new technologies, military operations in urban environments, and other issues related to applying international human rights law and international humanitarian law to non-international armed conflicts. This inaugural volume of the Lieber Book Series seeks to address many of the complexities that arise during the application of international law to modern warfare.

Part 1 Introduction, 1 Criminal Responsibility in International Law

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
van Sliedregt Elies
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
International Criminal ◽  
Criminal Responsibility ◽  
War Crimes ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
International Criminal Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Laws Of War ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
Modern Warfare

The reality of warfare has changed considerably over time. While most, if not all, armed conflicts were once fought between states, many are now fought within states. Particularly since the end of the Cold War the world has witnessed an outbreak of non-international armed conflicts, often of an ethnic nature. Since the laws of war are for the most part still premised on the concept of classic international armed conflict, it proved difficult to fit this law into ‘modern’ war crimes trials dealing with crimes committed during non-international armed conflicts. The criminal law process has therefore ‘updated’ the laws of war. The international criminal judge has brought the realities of modern warfare into line with the purpose of the laws of war (the prevention of unnecessary suffering and the enforcement of ‘fair play’). It is in war crimes law that international humanitarian law has been further developed. This chapter discusses the shift from war crimes law to international criminal law, the concept of state responsibility for individual liability for international crimes, and the nature and sources of international criminal law.

The Churches, the State and Modern War

Worldview ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 11 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 3-4
Author(s):  
J. F.
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
International Affairs ◽  
World Council Of Churches ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
World Council ◽  
Modern Warfare ◽  
The Military ◽  
Modern War

At its meeting in Uppsala, Sweden this summer, the World Council of Churches endorsed a principle that invites prolonged national discussion. With only a few negative votes, the 720 delegates adopted a resolution that endorses selective conscientious objection. The pertinent section from the 4,000 word statement entitled “Towards Justice and Peace in International Affairs” reads as follows:“Protection of conscience demands that the churches should give spiritual care and support not only to those serving in armed forces but also to those who, especially in the light of the nature of modern warfare, object to participation in particular wars they feel bound in conscience to oppose, or who find themselves unable to bear arms or to enter the military service of their nations for reasons of conscience. Such support should include pressure to have the law changed where required.”

scholarly journals On new military technologies and concepts explored from the Syrian conflict experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 638-655
Author(s):  
Nebojša Nikolić
Keyword(s):  
Field Testing ◽  
Great Powers ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Military Technology ◽  
Combat Experience ◽  
Regional Powers ◽  
Military Organization ◽  
Military Equipment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Syrian Conflict

Introduction/purpose: The purpose of this paper is to presents some tendencies stemming from the experiences from the ongoing Syrian conflict towards the development of new military concepts and technologies. The manner, scope and dynamics of exploitation of the combat experience from the Syrian conflict is a good example how great powers improve the capabilities of their defense systems. Methods: An extensive content analysis of selected reference sources has been applied. The system approach was used for a structural and balanced presentation of the available information. The comparative analysis has confirmed some similarities in the behavior of the great powers in terms of deploying and testing complex combat systems of strategic importance in local wars. Inductive thinking has contributed to the synthesis of appropriate conclusions. Results: Among the presence of several great and regional powers heavily involved in this conflict, Russia's is considered to be the most dominant and as such is the main subject of investigation in this paper. Field testing of new military equipment is known to be important but of extreme importance is its testing under real combat conditions. In parallel with intensive testing of a wide range of military technologies, there are indicators of developing new concepts, doctrines, and organizational upgrades on the basis of the Syrian combat experiences. Conclusion: From the standpoint of military technology and concept development, the Russian endeavor in Syria has become an example of a comprehensive and systematic aproach to learning, training, innovations, and implementations of the most relevant factors in the development of a modern military organization as a response to challenges of contemporary armed conflicts.

Wrestling an Alligator

Peacemakers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Pardew
Keyword(s):  
European Countries ◽  
American Military ◽  
Deputy Minister ◽  
East European ◽  
Military Equipment ◽  
The Eu ◽  
The Way

The T&E Program moves forward despite constant international interference and difficult relations between the Muslims and the Croats. The EU embargo on Bosnia prevents East European countries from selling equipment to the Federation. However, the Dutch agree to the sale of nonlethal trucks. The Secretaries of State and Defense demand the removal of the Bosnian Muslim Deputy Minister of Defense Cengic from his position. In a compromise, both the Muslim and Croat ministers in Bosnia are fired, clearing the way for the unloading of American military equipment destined for delivery to the Federation. Gradually, T&E makes progress, but serious problems remain between the Federation partners.

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST YEAR AND IHL: A PRAGMATIST RECLAIMS THE HIGH GROUND

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 263-286
Author(s):  
Geoffrey S. Corn ◽  
Eric Talbot Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
First Year ◽  
Military Force ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Transnational Terrorism ◽  
President Obama ◽  
American Military ◽  
The Law ◽  
Moral High Ground

AbstractIn a list of ‘desk side reminders’, allegedly originating with General Colin Powell, there is one towards the end which says ‘the window for changes is the first year’. It is unlikely President Obama follows these reminders, but it is nonetheless worthwhile to consider how his decisions – the decisions of the Commander in Chief of the sole remaining military superpower – impacted the application and development of international humanitarian law during the year when his window of opportunity was open.President Obama's first year in office can be defined by two words: pragmatism and commitment. His pragmatism is reflected in the decision to continue to pursue the armed conflicts against transnational terrorism, and his refusal to abandon the legal and policy positions of his predecessor that lodge that struggle squarely within an armed conflict paradigm. His commitment is reflected both in his decision to continue the armed struggle against transnational terrorism, and in the actions he has taken to demonstrate US commitment to fundamental humanitarian principles of the law, and to abandon the policy of legal exceptionalism that defined his predecessor's ‘authority without obligation’ interpretation of the law as it applied to this armed conflict. Any doubt about these dual pillars of his approach to transnational terrorism was eliminated when he delivered his Nobel acceptance speech. In that speech, he challenged the international community to accept the continuing need to meet the threat of transnational terrorism with military force. However, he also emphasized that maintaining the moral high ground in the conduct of hostilities – even when confronting an immoral opponent – is at the very core of the American military tradition.

Allies, Airpower, and Modern Warfare: The Afghan Model in Afghanistan and Iraq

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Biddle
Keyword(s):  
Military Intervention ◽  
Defense Policy ◽  
Combat Experience ◽  
American Military ◽  
Special Operations ◽  
Force Structure ◽  
Special Operations Forces ◽  
Modern Warfare ◽  
The U.S

The Afghan model of warfare uses indigenous allies to replace American conventional ground troops by exploiting U.S. airpower and small numbers of American special operations forces. Some argue that this model is widely applicable, enabling a major restructuring of the U.S. military and considerable freedom for American military intervention. An assessment of such claims in light of recent combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, however, finds the model's applicability to be more limited. Where U.S. allies have had skills and motivation comparable to their enemies', the Afghan model has proven extremely lethal even without U.S. conventional ground forces. But where U.S. allies have lacked these skills, they have proven unable to exploit the potential of American airpower. The model can thus be a powerful tool, but one with important preconditions for its use—and these preconditions limit its potential to transform U.S. force structure or defense policy.

scholarly journals Семантика военной коммуникации посредством боевой техники и поражающих элементов (сообщения между «своими» и «врагом») Статья 2

2021 ◽  
pp. 51-59
Author(s):  
Ivan V. Leonov ◽  
◽  
Olga V. Prokudenkova ◽  
Igor V. Kirillov ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Mass Culture ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
World Culture ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
Historical Material ◽  
Military Equipment ◽  
History Of

The article is devoted to the study of such a phenomenon as communication between opposing sides during wars and armed conflicts, carried out with the help of inscriptions and images that were applied to military equipment and striking elements. Archetypal grounds that largely determine the specifics of these communications are considered. The article provides an overview of the development of the studied phenomenon in the course of the history of world culture with the involvement of a variety of specific historical material. Special emphasis is placed on Modern times and the analysis of various processes that contributed to the popularization, modification and further dissemination of these communications (first, we are talking about the emergence and development of mass culture, new means of information replication, etc.). A thematic analysis of communications between «friends» and «enemies» is undertaken.

Mission Accomplished

Victory ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 108-125
Author(s):  
Cian O'Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Just War ◽  
Historical Basis ◽  
Modern Warfare ◽  
Modern War

The penultimate problem that just war theorists find with victory pertains to the contingencies of modern warfare. Insofar as today’s wars are configured in such a way that they are fundamentally ‘unwinnable’, it would be anachronistic to address them in the idiom of victory. This chapter assesses this contention. It confirms that, to the degree that victory is understood through the prism of so-called ‘decisive battles’, which is the standard way it has historically been conceived, there is a sound historical basis for declaiming victory as an obsolete concept. While this is true, it is not, however, the entire story. It overlooks the moral weight that this idealized vision of victory carries today, and indeed has always carried. Reflecting on this insight, this chapter concludes that what the examination of the relevance of victory to modern war reveals is the dated conception of war that underpins just war thinking.

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