The Definition of War

[Rojava Free State]

Throughout human history, man has suffered from conflict. Whenever two people disagree on something, conflict is the natural result. While most conflicts range between a simple verbal disagreement and a physical fight, conflicts between groups of people often escalate into war. One issue that has plagued sociologists throughout time however is defining war. At what point is a conflict so severe, war describes it? Is it based on the number of deaths? Does it have to do with state involvement? Is it the number of combatants that matters? Growing up in an urban area with high poverty rates, violence was a common occurrence. Many refer to the violence in our cities as being "wars," and the question is, is that correct? Is the war in Chiraq for example really a war? In my opinion, chiraq is indeed in a state of war between the gangs. I define war as a conflict with defined sides who officially take up arms against each other. War isn't imo just between states, but also occurs within states between the state and guerilla fighters or between different paramilitary groups or gangs. What is your opinion Nationstates? What in your view counts as a war?

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

You basically already answered your own question.

War is armed, violent conflict between two large and hostile groups of people.

[Rojava Free State]

You basically already answered your own question.

War is armed, violent conflict between two large and hostile groups of people.

But how large do the groups need to be. If two families in my town have anger issues with each other and begin killing each other, and everyday there's a violent confrontation between them involving guns till every last one of them is dead, does that count as a war?

So basically the Montagues and Capulets.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

You basically already answered your own question.

War is armed, violent conflict between two large and hostile groups of people.

But how large do the groups need to be. If two families in my town have anger issues with each other and begin killing each other, and everyday there's a violent confrontation between them involving guns till every last one of them is dead, does that count as a war?

So basically the Montagues and Capulets.

Yes. You basically just described a Mob War.

[Rojava Free State]

But how large do the groups need to be. If two families in my town have anger issues with each other and begin killing each other, and everyday there's a violent confrontation between them involving guns till every last one of them is dead, does that count as a war?

So basically the Montagues and Capulets.

Yes. You basically just described a Mob War.

I wonder if anyone has a different definition of war. Some people say the troubles in northern ireland for example were not a war while others say it was.

[Australian rePublic]

You basically already answered your own question.

War is armed, violent conflict between two large and hostile groups of people.

Only one side has to be hostile for there to be a conflict

[Rojava Free State]

You basically already answered your own question.

War is armed, violent conflict between two large and hostile groups of people.

Only one side has to be hostile for there to be a conflict

For example, me swatting a fly on the wall.

[Cisairse]

War is whatever comes next when somebody yells "This is war!" on a street.

[Nouveau Quebecois]

I think the textbook definition sums it up nicely.
"A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state."

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

You basically already answered your own question.

War is armed, violent conflict between two large and hostile groups of people.

Only one side has to be hostile for there to be a conflict

No, that would be a massacre.

[Rojava Free State]

I think the textbook definition sums it up nicely.
"A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state."

So if two guys start shooting at each other, that is a war? I feel like there's more to it than that.

[Nouveau Quebecois]

I think the textbook definition sums it up nicely.
"A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state."

So if two guys start shooting at each other, that is a war? I feel like there's more to it than that.

Well that isn't a "group" per-se, so no.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

I think the textbook definition sums it up nicely.
"A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state."

So if two guys start shooting at each other, that is a war? I feel like there's more to it than that.

The definition clearly says "nations or states or different groups within a nation or state".

Since one man can't comprise a nation, state, or group I'd say two guys shooting at each other is just a gunfight and not a war.

[Rojava Free State]

So if two guys start shooting at each other, that is a war? I feel like there's more to it than that.

The definition clearly says "nations or states or different groups within a nation or state".

Since one man can't comprise a nation, state, or group I'd say two guys shooting at each other is just a gunfight and not a war.

What about five on each side?

[Auristania]

Yes. You basically just described a Mob War.

I wonder if anyone has a different definition of war. Some people say the troubles in northern ireland for example were not a war while others say it was.

Falklands War was officially defined as a "conflict" because soldiers get higher pay during "War".

So the definition of "War" is when soldiers get extra pay.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

The definition clearly says "nations or states or different groups within a nation or state".

Since one man can't comprise a nation, state, or group I'd say two guys shooting at each other is just a gunfight and not a war.

What about five on each side?

Are they affiliated in any way? If not, it's just a firefight. If so, then it's a mob/gang war.

[Rojava Free State]

I wonder if anyone has a different definition of war. Some people say the troubles in northern ireland for example were not a war while others say it was.

Falklands War was officially defined as a "conflict" because soldiers get higher pay during "War".

So the definition of "War" is when soldiers get extra pay.

They actually vary the pay soldiers get when they're being shot at?

[Kowani]

Falklands War was officially defined as a "conflict" because soldiers get higher pay during "War".

So the definition of "War" is when soldiers get extra pay.

They actually vary the pay soldiers get when they're being shot at?

Incentives, I assume.

[Rojava Free State]

They actually vary the pay soldiers get when they're being shot at?

Incentives, I assume.

I didn't know till now that the Brits paid their soldiers less than usual during the Falkand War.

[Purple Rats]

Falklands War was officially defined as a "conflict" because soldiers get higher pay during "War".

So the definition of "War" is when soldiers get extra pay.

I doubt about that definition. If a authority says to their soldiers "you must go to war, or we will execute you", and not pay them, it will still be a war, not conflict.

[US-SSR]

A war is an armed conflict between two sovereign entities. One may be attempting to acquire or assert its sovereignty as in a revolution or civil war. So, since terrorist groups or drug traffickers are not sovereign or asserting sovereignty, there is no actual war on terrorism or drugs.

[Purple Rats]

A war is an armed conflict between two sovereign entities. One may be attempting to acquire or assert its sovereignty as in a revolution or civil war. So, since terrorist groups or drug traffickers are not sovereign or asserting sovereignty, there is no actual war on terrorism or drugs.

"Terrorism" is anyway such a shady phrase. If normally speaking, someone says "terrorist", most people think about suicide bombers, these lunatics who drive their car to masses or this Paris thing in some concert...
On the other hand, in UK for example groups of people who never have any victims are also labeled as terrorist. Like animal rescues. Even those, who do not brake into anywhere, just share their ideas in internet...

[Cisairse]

I think the textbook definition sums it up nicely.
"A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state."

So if two guys start shooting at each other, that is a war? I feel like there's more to it than that.

1 person is by definition not a group.

[Rojava Free State]

A war is an armed conflict between two sovereign entities. One may be attempting to acquire or assert its sovereignty as in a revolution or civil war. So, since terrorist groups or drug traffickers are not sovereign or asserting sovereignty, there is no actual war on terrorism or drugs.

They say in the definition though that war includes battles between groups within a country.

[Auristania]

Incentives, I assume.

I didn't know till now that the Brits paid their soldiers less than usual during the Falkand War.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DVy3D2eglE
The OFFICIAL word was "Crisis"