The Impact of Perspective on the Effects and Outcomes of Conflict

摘要

Conflicts in the contemporary world are manifold and have various characteristics. They range from primitive wars fought with 'stone-age' weapons to post-modern conflicts fought with competing arguments over the world wide digital network. In conventional thinking, the conflict is classified as being such as 'conventional war', or 'counter-terrorism', or 'low intensity conflict' and a myriad of other types. This paper suggests that the way a conflict is viewed will determine the outcomes or effects produced rather than a conflict being intrinsically of a particular type. The perspective taken of the conflict will determine the methods to combat it and thus the subsequent effects. In the contemporary world, this is especially of concern with the practice of counter-terrorist activities.