An Analysis of Recent Conflicts

Three hundred eighty conflicts initiated during the years 1946-1964 are analysed. The analysis of recent conflicts has three major advantages: (1) to confirm or counter assumptions about limited warfare situations in the period 1946-1964 to provide greater validity in predicting such situations in the future; (2) to identify the major variables involved in the various kinds of recent conflicts so that these variables will be used appropriately in the analysis of future conflicts of a similar type; and (3) to provide a data base from which important implications about the nature of recent conflicts may be derived so that effective processes of deterrence and control may be perceived for future application.