POLI 360 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Asymmetric Warfare, Western Europe, Cybernetics

• School: McGill University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLI 360
• Professor: T V Paul

Document Summary

Age of tools (2000bc-1500ad) - martin van creveld. Use of horse in proper way differs form oxcart. Empires don"t like anyone else getting latest tech. (sanctions,etc. ) Dominant role of machines, derive energy from non- organic sources (wind, water, gun-powder. ) Decline of siege warfare after 18th c. --> naval war- fare. Developments: rifled battles, metal cartridges, smoke-less power, magazines for fire arms. 5 revolutions that took place in 5 areas (eur. Began to increase from 1840s with vast production of fast-firing. Report from front to central command: what is going on on the ground. Mass-protection is a big deal, otherwise will not enter theater. Dominance of offence v. defence with coming of gun-powder. Improvements in firepower, self-protection, mobility, communica- tions and intelligence. Also includes whole nations fighting and using all re- sources to preform in theater. Study of ctrl and communications in complex organizations. No longer send in large waves of troops. Reason why now, no one wants to dir.