The article discusses the diminishing effectiveness of war as a tool for achieving political objectives in the 21st century, as illustrated by major conflicts from Ukraine to Iraq and Afghanistan.
In an insightful piece from the Financial Times, author Janan Ganesh highlights a significant trend of the 21st century: the declining effectiveness of military conflict in realizing political goals. As demonstrated through the lens of various conflicts like Ukraine, Iraq, and Afghanistan, major powers have faced challenges turning their substantial military superiority into lasting political victories. This phenomenon raises questions about the utility of war in contemporary geopolitics.
Ganesh references the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, which displays abandoned American military equipment that failed to secure a win in the Vietnam War. This serves as an implicit warning that technological power alone is insufficient for decisive victories. He speculates that one day, Ukraine might establish a similar exhibition showcasing the failed Russian attempts to dominate its territory, while the Taliban might display U.S. military equipment left behind following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The author provocatively asks when the last clear ground victory was achieved by a major power, pointing to the Gulf War of 1991 as a near instance, but emphasizes that it primarily relied on aerial bombardments. In contrast, subsequent wars have often led to missed objectives and problematic outcomes, shedding light on the complexities of modern warfare and its implications for international relations and security policy.
