New and Old Wars: Organised Violence in a Global Era Mary Kaldor is an English-language study book about modern conflicts in a globalized world. This work is aimed at professionals who want to gain insight into the changing nature of warfare.
Kaldor analyses the transition from traditional wars between states to new, hybrid forms of violence. These ‘new and old wars’ are characterized by a mix of politics, organized crime, and serious human rights violations, with actors operating both locally and internationally. The book discusses how these conflicts are waged using tactics such as terror and destabilization, outside the classical rules of warfare. The author advocates for a new approach to international peace enforcement and the rebuilding of social structures based on cosmopolitan legislation. This third edition is fully updated and includes a new chapter on the impact of old war strategies in Afghanistan and Iraq, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between new and old wars.
Subjects: Armed conflict, Military history: post-WW2 conflicts, HISTORY / Wars & Conflicts / General.