This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“States have always used non-military
means to bully, bait and beguile their way to victory. However, the world is now more complex and
above all more inextricably interconnected than ever before. It used to be orthodoxy that interdependence
stopped wars. In a way, it did – but the
pressures that led to wars never went away, so instead interdependence became
the new battleground. Wars without
warfare, non-military conflicts fought with all kinds of other means, from
subversion to sanctions, memes to murder, may be becoming the new normal.” –
Mark Galeotti, Introduction, Page 10
“Power is about perception, influence about
imagination. When Renaissance princes
competed to attract the finest artists and poets and sculptors to their courts,
it was not simply for their own pleasure, it was a battlefront in the political
and cultural wars being wages between the city-states. Such patronage demonstrated wealth and a
city’s or a lineage’s cultural authority.” – Mark Galeotti, Chapter 1: The
Renaissance of Weaponisation, Page 20-21
“Suddenly, the world is full of people who seem to be doing
the work of states, yet not as direct employees, nor even out of ideological
commitment or patriotic passion.
Journalists hired to write hit pieces; scholars saying the right things
for a grant; think tanks producing recommendations to order.” – Mark Galeotti,
Chapter 3: Soldiering-plus and Gig Geopolitics, Page 56
Is This An Overview?
Non-military means have always been used by states to obtain
what they want, or attempt to obtain what they want. As the world has become more interconnected,
states have become less willing to use military means to obtain what they
want. But as the pressure for war did
not decrease, that very interconnection has become weaponized. Using means of covert subversion,
disinformation, sanctions, cyberattacks, and anything else that can change
people’s minds to support what the state wants.
All states make the case that their conflict is just, that
their war is just, that the reasons for their aggression in the conflict are virtuous. To obtain cultural support for conflict,
culture has been weaponized.
Journalists, entertainers, and academics are given support and resources
when they provide favorable views, buying their loyalty. Unfavorable views are punished by denying the
resources. People self-censor or
misrepresent views to obtain the support, and avoid being punished. When dealing with other governments, economic
sanctions and aid accomplish the task of gaining favorable views and punishing
unfavorable views.
As publics have become unwilling to tolerate the death of
soldiers, states have outsourced war functions to private military
organizations, known as mercenaries.
Publics care less for the death of mercenaries. No need for an assassin, when a lawyer can
make anyone’s life expensive to live, to take away individuals’ credibility,
and freedoms. As official police and
spies cannot perform certain tasks without a potential public scandal, states
have been using criminals to obtain information, and persecutor dissidents.
Caveats?
The explanation method of the claims, is through a myriad of
examples. Although the examples are
diverse, showing historical and contemporary evidentiary support for the
claims. The examples are limited, by
share supporting information, not the complex details. The analysis is hidden within the examples
provided.
