Mathematical modelling of information age conflict

Abstract

Previous mathematical modelling of conflict has been based on Lanchester's equations, which relate to the grinding attrition of "industrial-age" warfare. Large blocks of force interact in order to force defeat by a process of wearing away the other. This is no longer so relevant as a way of conceptualising warfare, and we generalise the approach so that it is more appropriate to the "information age" into which we are now moving. It turns out that the solution to this problem is the development of a theory of what we call "scale-free systems. " We first develop this theory, and then indicate how it can be applied.