Modern warfare's high death toll and technological shift make aggression less viable
By
The Economist
A bagel-shaped object. The form is there, the soul isn't.
Summary
Between 2021 and 2024, nearly 750,000 people were killed directly in wars, with many more dying from indirect effects like hunger and disease—the highest combat death toll since the Cold War. The article argues that modern wars of choice, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Trump's war on Iran, have backfired on their initiators. It highlights a new battlefield reality where technology enables smaller, weaker countries to defend themselves more effectively using cheap but deadly weaponry, making war a less rational option for aggressors.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledBullets and bombs killed nearly three-quarters of a million people in wars between 2021 and 2024.
Combat deaths in the past four years have been the highest since the end of the cold war.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has become a humiliating quagmire for Vladimir Putin.
Technology has made it harder for powerful nations to win wars cheaply.
Smaller, weaker countries can defend themselves more easily with cheap, deadly kit.
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