Armed confrontation in the 21st century

Military science has always tried to interpret war in terms of a philosophical category, identify the conditions and factors affecting it, and look into patterns and laws governing the origins, course, and outcome of war.

Going to the true causes of war and the most typical differences generating tensions in political and economic relations between countries culminating and manifesting in war between them is the principal challenge of this scientific search. A very important consideration here is to evaluate correctly the scope of influence that the potentialities of the warring countries, specifics of the theaters of operations, and the opponents' political aims have on the general character of future wars and their course and end results.

For these reasons, in the first place, a comprehensive evaluation of the character of wars and armed conflicts in the future, and an adequate understanding of essence and content have lost none of their relevance with the passage of time. Theoretical concepts and conclusions relating to this issue play a key role in the efforts to formulate Russia's military policy and guidelines for military developments, and promotion of the theory and practice in the training and employment of the Armed Forces and the country's military organization as a whole.

Experience gained in modern-day wars and armed conflicts gives ground for arguments that formation of a new model of the world order and global and regional security systems has not yet been completed and that it continues to develop dynamically with a high degree of unpredictability of its results. The gap between developed and developing countries in living standards and military and economic power is growing wider at faster rates. This fact has heated up the fight for spheres of influence, for global and regional domination, natural resources, and survival, and has led to the emergence of new threats to the military security of the world community as a whole and the Russian Federation, in particular.

The leading countries' revolutionary breakthrough in information technologies and engineering has, on the one hand, accelerated globalization and, on the other hand, intensified the impact of the accompanying negative phenomena. Wide-scale application of information and other innovative technologies has provided a basis for developing a totally new generation of tools of warfare, expanded the fields of their application, and stimulated continued development of forms in which troops (forces) and methods to conduct military operations are used.

This is why it is important to encourage a search for scientifically coherent answers to key issues relating to the character of wars and armed conflicts in the future. This is very important for reducing risks in the choice of priorities in military developments, establishing an efficient military security system for the country, and for spending resources on the country's defense with the greatest effect.

Knowing and understanding the causes of, and conditions leading to, the breakout of wars in our days, and defining their character help identify possible military threats, their character, and their development trends in good time.

In its relations...