What constitutes a 'world war'? How many countries need to be involved? And who decides at which point a number of regional skirmishes can be grouped together and called a World War? At the time, who called the official start of World War 1 and World War 2?
And have you noticed that although the term 'World War Three' is freely used in the alternative press and on the Internet, all the major news networks have stoically avoided using any phrase reminiscent of World War.
Since it's difficult to find a definition for an event which has only happened twice in modern history, here's my attempt at an answer to the question 'what constitutes a world war'?
A World War is a military conflict spanning more than 2 continents, in which at least 20 major countries participate in an attack against a common enemy, and which has the attention of the man-in-the-street due to the significant loss of life.
With that definition, we can agree that WW1 and WW2 were in fact World Wars (both wars involved some degree of participation from most of the world's then existing countries: Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the Soviet Union). We can also agree that we are very close to achieving World War 3. The only requirement left to fulfill the start of WW3 is that of a military conflict spanning more than 2 continents. As soon as Israel attacks Palestine, or North Korea attacks South Korea or the US, or China invades Taiwan, we could possibly have the next World War well underway.
If things keep going the way they are now it's quiet possible that America could become entrenched into the Middle East with the majority of her first-line units, North Korea then could attack South Korea. Next, with America's forces stretched well beyond the limit, China could invade Taiwan. Would not that usher in the start of World War 3?
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the real first world wartechnically, one could call the Napoleonic wars (1801-1815) the first "world war" because they were fought over multiple continents (Europe and Africa)66% Voted for by NeferMaatNetjer, Weydon.
involving several nations (Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, Prussia, Saxony, Bohemia, Moravia, Poland, and Russia) against a common enemy (France). -
WellWWI was called The Great War by most people up until the end of it. It also went by many other names in many other countries. I believe it is agreed that it was The Times that designated it The First World War, not in reference to the second war, but just the fact that no other war had been of that scale. That in itself is a little arguable as there were many huge wars involving many countries and continents at once, but as it stands since the term had been made up there has only been 2.Voted for by Weydon.
There are many military conflicts going on now, you are correct. But there always have been. People have been nervously whispering about the verge of WW3 probably a decade after WW2. I don't know how dangerous this situation is over others.
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Weydon
July 10
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