OPINION Vol.1, No.1 June 2013 - National Defence University

4GW AND EMERGING CONTOURS OF 5GW
POLITICAL – MILITARY DIMENSIONS AND IMPACT ON WORLD POLITICS
Introduction
Evolution in military affairs is an ongoing process; even though history of warfare is as old as
humans themselves, many theorists believe that modern era has witnessed three watersheds in which
change has been qualitative. The generations of warfare began with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the
treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War. Previously, many different entities had fought wars using different
means, not just armies and navies and outcome of war was decided on the battlefield while population at
large usually remained out of the war.
The first generation of war (1648 – 1860) grew from the political, economic, and social structures
that developed and not just invention of gun powder and muskets which existed in some shape earlier.
Warfare however got a new lease when Europe transitioned from a feudal system to a system of nationstates
ruled by monarchs 1 . Napoleon’s armies took one and a half century to build after treaty of
Westphalia and were a result of a developing political system as a result of seismic changes in the social
structures of Europe like Renaissance and French Revolution. These two events built societies which
generated enough wealth to sustain these mass armies for collective security.
Second generation of war (1860 – 1915) was a logical conclusion of the need to stop these mass
armies. New weapons like machine gun were developed and were complimented by barbed wire, mines
and trench warfare. Since all these changes required money, nation states developed an elaborate system to
tax their masses in the name of collective security. Second generation of war hence grew out of the
requirement to maintain integrity of nation states and was again supported by political and social systems.
Finally, second generation war required an industrial society, better transportation means, good
communications and the mass weapons and ammunition that only industrial societies could produce. To
top it all, it required sacrifices from people which could only be provided by people through mass
participation in armies.
Third generation warfare or manoeuvre warfare really started in 1915 and came to maturity in
1940. The political and social atmospheres of the opposing sides were critical to the difference in
development 2 . German losses were seen more as a result of civilian rather than military incompetence.
Mission type orders were instituted and manoeuvre warfare was applied to focus on destruction of the
enemy’s command and control and logistics as the fastest way to destroy his will.
The term of Fourth generation warfare as argued by its proponents uses all the shifts from a
mechanical to an information/electronic society, the blurring of lines between war and politics while
assuming that the state is now more accountable to international system and is thus losing its monopoly on
violence. Fifth generation warfare as its proponents propose will result from the continued shift of political
and social loyalties to causes rather than nations. 5GW according to its proponents will be the war of
information era and will use the strengths of global integration through internet and unrestricted access
across nation states both in digital and physical worlds.
Aim
To carry out an in-depth study of the concept of fourth generation warfare and evolving concept of
fifth generation warfare as a result of social and political changes around the globe with a view to
understanding its implications on the strategic choices and operational art.
Scope
Theoretical overview of fourth and fifth generation warfare.
Evolving character of war as a result of politico – military changes.
Recommendations.
THEORETICAL OVERVIEW OF 4 TH AND 5 TH GENERATION OF WARFARE
Theoretical Overview
Fourth Generation Warfare. Fourth generation warfare was first proposed by William S. Lind
in 1989 3 and was later seconded by Colonel Thomas Hammes in 2004. Fourth generation warfare
was defined as war between a country and non-state actors while also admitting that 4GW tactics
OPINION Vol.1 No.1 128 June 2013