Asymmetric conflicts

Abstract

 An imbalance in the military power characterizes the contemporary armed conflict. Various studies have confirmed that asymmetric conflict is rooted from powerful motivating factors namely ethnic and religious identity.  Since the 9/11 era, states and non-state actors have adopted unique characteristics and nature of war where they use asymmetric methods. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the asymmetric warfare by focusing on how the globalization has contributed to the rise of armed groups and, how the states have shifted from interstate warfare to asymmetric warfare. By looking on how globalization had led to armed groups, the paper will analyze how the armed groups affect the nation-states in terms of social-economic, political and security state.  Due to the development internet and information technology, the paper finds that there are new forms of conflict known as netwars where criminals use networks in planning and completing the mission. The article will also discuss how technological innovation has assisted the criminals in planning terrorist activities. Finally, the paper will discuss the major types of a transactional crime organization, their role, and measures to combat them.

Introduction

The asymmetric conflict involves the use of entirely new methods or conventional capabilities that the opponents cannot understand. The globalized economy is characterized by a hybrid war where adversaries employ military strategies and tactics in the battlespace. In a real sense, asymmetrical wars do not comprise a quantitative difference such as power, but it shows qualitative differences regarding behavioral standards and means. It is important to understand that the interstate warfare (conflict between states) contributes to asymmetric conflict where states employ guerilla strategies to undermine the interstate rules. States goes beyond the   established state order and changes the character of war. The shift from interstate warfare to asymmetric conflict has contributed to the rise of armed groups. This means that state and non-state actors have deployed the military operations and weapons of mass destruction to minimize and exploit the weakness of their nations. Another point is that globalization has contributed to the rise of armed groups in that terrorists have the opportunity to operate on a worldwide scale.  War is shaped by the level of technology, the economic circumstances among other factors. This means that through globalization, migratory flows and the availability of information technology, terrorists can integrate and form transnational organized crime. The International organized groups can commit all kinds of crime including human trafficking, drug trafficking among other criminal activities.  Globalization has given rise to netwar where international organized group use technologies such as communications technology to attack target areas and commit a crime.  The law enforcement should implement the necessary measures to combat the international organized groups and prevent their devastating effects on the national and international security.

 Conclusion

 It is important to say that globalization has brought both advantages and disadvantages to the national and international sphere. For example, globalization has brought benefits through the transmission of cultural values, language exchange, great human sensitivity, inter-exchange of labor, transfer of technology, and exchange of knowledge among other many benefits. However, the research paper has confirmed that globalization has created conflict between the wealthy and developing nations and the gap has contributed to the conflict. In other words, nations like the U.S feel like they have a dominant power over developing nations and they tend to dominate the global trade.  The imbalance of power contributes to war between state and non-state actors in trying to defend own national economies. Since globalization has introduced the information and communication technology, terrorists have developed a new form of war called ‘netwar' where terrorists commit a crime in an internet manner. Thus, globalization has brought disruption on national and international economy, social and political aspects.