g-f(2)3110 Total War Redefined: Essential Knowledge from Foreign Affairs

 

genioux Fact post by Fernando Machuca and Claude

Introduction

Mara Karlin's analysis in Foreign Affairs, "The Return of Total War," reveals a fundamental shift in global conflict dynamics. The emergence of comprehensive warfare, combining traditional and modern elements, marks a critical transition that demands new understanding and preparation strategies.

genioux GK Nugget

"Modern total war transcends traditional boundaries, combining multiple domains, actors, and technologies in a comprehensive conflict where preparation and resilience become crucial for both deterrence and survival." — Extracted from Karlin's "The Return of Total War," Foreign Affairs, November/December 2024

genioux Foundational Fact

The era of limited warfare has been replaced by comprehensive conflict, where traditional state militaries coexist with non-state actors, advanced technologies merge with conventional warfare, and the boundaries between different types of conflict collapse. This new reality demands understanding war's expanded scope while preparing for conflicts that simultaneously engage entire societies, economies, and domains.

The 10 Most Relevant genioux Facts

1. Warfare Evolution
• Limited conflicts transformed into comprehensive warfare
• Multiple domains engaged simultaneously
• Traditional and modern elements combined
• Boundaries between conflict types collapsed
2. Technology Integration
• AI and autonomous systems
• Space and cyber capabilities
• Drone warfare prominence
• Counter-measure development
3. Actor Diversity
• State militaries resurgent
• Non-state actors persistent
• Commercial entities involved
• Coalition importance increased
4. Domain Expansion
• Land, sea, and air integration
• Cyber warfare critical
• Space domain essential
• Maritime conflicts renewed
5. Nuclear Dynamics
• Deterrence resurgence
• Tripolar challenges
• Escalation risks
• Strategic complexity
6. Coalition Building
• Rapid response capabilities
• International coordination
• Resource sharing
• Partnership networks
7. Deterrence Evolution
• Multiple approaches needed
• Cost-benefit calculations changed
• Signaling complexity increased
• Regional considerations vital
8. Resource Demands
• Industrial base importance
• Supply chain resilience
• Coalition support requirements
• Cost implications
9. Strategic Adaptation
1. Flexible response needed
2. Multiple scenario planning
3. Resource distribution
4. Global positioning
10. Future Preparation
• Comprehensive readiness
• Alliance strengthening
• Capability development
• Resilience building

Conclusion

Karlin's analysis reveals that success in the new era of total war requires understanding its comprehensive nature while developing strategies that embrace multiple domains, actors, and approaches. The key to preventing major conflict lies in thorough preparation, strong alliances, and demonstrated resilience—making readiness for total war the best way to avoid it.

REFERENCES

The g-f GK Context

Mara Karlin, The Return of Total War, Foreign Affairs, November/December 2024, Volume 103, Number 6, Published on October 22, 2024.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mara Karlin

MARA KARLIN is Professor of Practice and Director of the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution. As U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities from 2021 to 2023, she helped write and implement the 2022 National Defense Strategy. She previously served at the Defense Department during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development. She is the author of Building Militaries in Fragile States: Challenges for the United States and The Inheritance: America's Military After Two Decades of War.

Classical Summary: The Return of Total War

Mara Karlin's analysis in Foreign Affairs presents a profound examination of how modern warfare has evolved into a comprehensive form of conflict that transcends traditional boundaries. The article argues that the relatively narrow scope of war during the post-9/11 era has dramatically widened, marking the emergence of what theorists historically called "total war," but with crucial modern dimensions.

Karlin demonstrates how current conflicts showcase this transformation, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East. These wars combine multiple elements: traditional state militaries alongside non-state actors, advanced technologies merging with conventional warfare tactics, and operations spanning multiple domains simultaneously. The analysis reveals how artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and space-based capabilities coexist with trench warfare and maritime conflicts, all under the shadow of nuclear deterrence.

Most significantly, the article illuminates how this new era of comprehensive conflict demands different preparation strategies. The emphasis on coalition building, the importance of industrial bases, and the evolution of deterrence all point to the need for a wider aperture in understanding and preparing for modern warfare. Karlin emphasizes how the U.S. and its allies must adapt their military posture, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, to face these new challenges.

The work concludes with a sobering observation: the best way to avoid this new form of total war is to be thoroughly prepared for it. This preparation includes understanding war's expanded scope, strengthening alliances, and developing comprehensive resilience—making this analysis an essential reading for understanding contemporary global security challenges.

Mara Karlin

By Copilot

Mara Karlin is a distinguished expert in foreign policy and national security, currently serving as a Professor of Practice and Director of the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) [1]. She is also a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution [1].

Karlin has an extensive background in national security, having served in various roles for six U.S. Secretaries of Defense [2]. Her expertise spans strategic planning, defense budgeting, the future of conflict, and regional affairs involving the Middle East, Europe, and Asia [2]. She has held positions such as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, where she led the development and implementation of the 2022 National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture Review, and Missile Defense Review [1].

Karlin earned her Bachelor's degree from Tulane University and her Master's and Ph.D. in Strategic Studies from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies [3]. Her doctoral thesis was titled "Training and equipping is not transforming: An assessment of U.S. programs to build partner militaries" [3].

Throughout her career, Karlin has been recognized for her contributions to national security, receiving the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian award presented by the Secretary of Defense [2]. She has also published extensively on military history and policy, contributing to the academic and policy-making communities.

[1]  sais.jhu.edu https://sais.jhu.edu/users/mkarlin1

[2] global.upenn.edu https://global.upenn.edu/perryworldhouse/expert/mara-karlin

[3] en.wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_Karlin

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