The "New Wars" Debate Revisited: An Empirical Evaluation of the Atrociousness of "New Wars" (original) (raw)

The paper revisits the debate surrounding the concept of "new wars" by conducting an empirical evaluation of civil conflicts in the post-Cold War era. It assesses claims that contemporary conflicts are characterized by increased atrociousness compared to traditional wars, arguing against the notion that these conflicts represent a significant departure from historical trends. The research utilizes systematic analysis and statistical methods to critically examine trends such as the increase in civilian displacement, battle intensity, and the overall nature of civil warfare, ultimately questioning the validity of the distinctions often drawn by new war theorists.