Conflict and the need for a theory of proxy warfare

Abstract

Modern conflict is dominated by proxy wars but the United States military fails to account for this type of environment. Instead, it speaks euphemistically by using phrases like, By, With, and Through to articulate the complexities of proxy environments. In doing so, it falls short in understanding the dynamics at work between actors in a proxy relationship, which has resulted in it doing poorly in modern proxy wars. Therefore, the United States military should embrace proxy warfare from a theoretical standpoint and develop a resultant proxy warfare doctrine. Proxy environments - dominated by principal-agent problems, the oppression of time, and power dynamics between actors - are often paradoxical, but yield two distinct models, one that is exploitative and the other being transactional. Breathing life into these theories of proxy warfare adds to the professional body of knowledge and will assist political and military leaders and advisers in proxy environments.