Kerry Chavez & Rick Newton
Small wars are far more common than large-scale combat operations. Indeed, they are the venue where great powers clash while carefully avoiding crossing the threshold into total war. They are also more diverse, and therefore harder to study systematically. We agree with SWJ’s animus that, for better or worse, regardless of how difficult or distasteful, small wars are an enduring feature of modern politics. The United States (US) and its allies must be prepared to fight and win them just as much as major theater war. This held true during the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it holds true now as leaders shift focus to great power competition. All along, SWJ has refused to look away from these constant currents that lie barely beneath the surface of what has been securitized and deemed salient.
War is Nuanced
Encompassing a hefty portion of the continuum of competition and conflict, studying small wars is no small task. We commend SWJ for spotlighting this less sensational segment of the spectrum of war. Even more, however, the journal’s most inspiring contribution has been to dimensionalize small wars and bring attention to their breadth and depth across the various analytical frameworks employed to ensure all elements of national power receive proportionate consideration (DIMEFIL – diplomacy, information, military, economic, financial, intelligence, law enforcement; PMESII – political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure; ASCOPE – areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, events; etc.).
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