[Recon1424]

Often the past has parallels with the future.

Using your knowledge of history what wars will happen in the future? Include why war starts, its implications and outcome.

Obviously this is all purely speculation.

[MagicNMedicine]

There won't be wars between superpowers like US, China etc.

There will be regional wars by smaller countries in the Middle East, India/Pakistan etc.

I think the age of globalised world trade has made us move towards a time when there will be fewer wars of one nation state against another, as many nation states prosperity is interlinked with its neighbours. The wars of the future are more likely to be stateless groups v nation states as we are seeing with terrorist organisations etc.

[Theflyingbarney]

IMO there won't be another major war for several decades yet. Globalisation has massively changed how global politics operates, and every country is reliant on at least a few others for imports/exports etc. Throw into the mix a whole load of traditional alliances/agreements, and declaring war on another country becomes tantamount to political suicide. E.g. the US-China war mentioned in the original post - how many goods are made in China these days? If China cuts off its trade links to the US the global economy would probably fall apart. I think Iran are the most likely candidates to get involved in a war next, but equally I would say it's unlikely to be the USA (since Iran are friendly with China) or Israel (as they're too tied up with the Palestine issue).

So yeah, I reckon a big war is unlikely to happen for a while

[972]

I'm just waiting on Greece vs. France.

[Grumpig]

I'm not sure how history can help us when the machines rise up.

[Super Cicero]

2013: West vs Syria. Western victory

2021: Israel vs Muslim-brotherhood controlled Egypt; Iran sides with Egypt leading to US invasion of Iran. Israeli victory over Egypt; US victory over Iran. However, the US then has to occupy Iran and loses many lives over the next few years.

2024: War-weary US elects libertarian Rand Paul as president.

2025: President Paul leads the US out of NATO and UN. He withdraws all US troops from everywhere and America retreats into isolationism.

2027: Chinese invasion of Taiwan

2028: Russian invasion of Georgia

2030: Chinese invasion of Phillipines, followed by Vietnam and the rest of South East Asia

2031: Russian invasion of Baltic States

2032: UK votes in referendum to leave Europe after it is announced Europe will become a unified country to deal with the Russian threat.

2034: Europe launches Operation Walrus: the invasion of Britain. Europe launched a cyber attack on Britain prior to invading, knocking out our defence systems and unable to contact our navy or submarines. European forces conquer London and British government surrenders. European troops occupy Britain.

2035: Due to global warming and dwindling world oil supply, China is in desperate need of resources. It forms an alliance with Europe.

March 2036: Chinese-European joint invasion of Russia. Europe attacks Russia from the West, re-taking the Baltic States, while at the same time, Chinese forces sweep into Siberia and the Russian Far East. Due to European and Chinese missile defence shields, no Russian nukes hit their targets in Europe or China. Chinese forces reach the Ural Mountains while European forces reach Moscow (aiming all their forces there rather than splitting in 3 as Hitler did). Russia surrenders.

Nov 2036: The victorious powers of Europe and China now control most of the world, with only the isolationist US and India being the only major powers unconquered. Africa is a unified Chinese satellite state, and South America is a unified European satellite. At a joint speech in Brussels, the European and Chinese Presidents give a speech saying: "The People's Republic of China, European Union, African Union, South American Union and our conquests (Britain, Russia, South East Asia) will be re-organised into the first GLOBAL EMPIRE! For a safe and secure society!"

[Recon1424]

(Original post by Super Cicero)
2013: West vs Syria. Western victory
2021: Israel vs Muslim-brotherhood controlled Egypt; Iran sides with Egypt leading to US invasion of Iran. Israeli victory over Egypt; US victory over Iran. However, the US then has to occupy Iran and loses many lives over the next few years.
2024: War-weary US elects libertarian Rand Paul as president.
2025: President Paul leads the US out of NATO and UN. He withdraws all US troops from everywhere and America retreats into isolationism.
2027: Chinese invasion of Taiwan
2028: Russian invasion of Georgia
2030: Chinese invasion of Phillipines, Vietnam
2031: Russian invasion of Baltic States
2032: UK votes in referendum to leave Europe after it is announced Europe will become a unified country to deal with the Russian threat.
2034: Europe launches Operation Walrus: the invasion of Britain.

Operation Walrus? lol.

[Norton1]

(Original post by MagicNMedicine)
There won't be wars between superpowers like US, China etc.

There will be regional wars by smaller countries in the Middle East, India/Pakistan etc.

I think the age of globalised world trade has made us move towards a time when there will be fewer wars of one nation state against another, as many nation states prosperity is interlinked with its neighbours. The wars of the future are more likely to be stateless groups v nation states as we are seeing with terrorist organisations etc.

I think looking at history suggests their will be. If you consider the age of the superpower to begin in the 1700's there was the 7 years war - the first globalised conflict - in the 1750's, the Napoleonic wars in the early 1800's which were both wars involving the superpowers of their day. Moving on the first and second world wars were between superpowers and then the Cold War was a proxy war involving, once more, the two great superpowers.

I expect we're more likely to see something like the Cold War than another hot war between USA and China.

[Norton1]

(Original post by Recon1424)
Operation Walrus? lol.

Does it seem so silly now? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sealion

[Flyteryder]

NATO vs SCO (Combined Russia, China & countries surrounding Russia.)

[Productoflabour]

Since when was India not a growing super-power? ( Brazil, Russia India, China)

Also what about a South American Invasion of Europe? Strike the colonialist whilst their weak?

[Josh93]

To quote Albert Einstein 'I do not know with what weapons World War 3 will be fought but World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones.'

The next wars will I suspect either be fought over ideology (e.g the current war on terrorism) or resources as resources start to dwindle due to climate change and increasing population/increasing consumerism in developing nations such as China and India - the current tension between China and India over rights to the major rivers in the region is an excellent example.

I imagine that any future wars which do occur between major world powers will be very carefully contained to ensure that the scenario envisioned by Einstein does not come to pass.

[Alpharius]

The potential war I'm most worried about is the Pakistan/India issue.

With water supply dwindling in the region, it's only a matter of time before one tries to take the others water supply, sparking war.

Same issue with China and the surrounding nations. They are actively diverting rivers away from other countries to supply their ballooning population.

[Productoflabour]

(Original post by Recon1424)
South America is stronger, but is their military at a western level in terms of training, resources, equipment etc?

Unequivocally, no. However, when taking into consideration that as it stand Brazil ( as far as I am aware) spend around 1.5% of GDP on military expenditure and if they continue to grow as is expected they will be forced to take a larger share of peacekeeping operations etc so therefore MilExp has to raise as they develop more.

The same can be said looking at Mexico and a few others...

I wasn't necessarily thinking of an immanent invasion but as far as I see it Europe is in decline (by comparison) and will continue to be so for at least the next quarter century. So it begins to look like an easy target because let's face it there is no way the UK should have or will be able to sustain MilExp of these levels and I'm sure Hollande will make cuts to MilExp.

[nulli tertius]

(Original post by Recon1424)

Using your knowledge of history what wars will happen in the future?

The Syrians will defeat the Iraqis...

...Somewhere between Brussels and Mons

[Pindar]

(Original post by MagicNMedicine)
There won't be wars between superpowers like US, China etc.

Surely they'll be proxy wars, wars over resources, economic wars. E.g Africa.

(Original post by MagicNMedicine)
I think the age of globalised world trade has made us move towards a time when there will be fewer wars of one nation state against another, as many nation states prosperity is interlinked with its neighbours. The wars of the future are more likely to be stateless groups v nation states as we are seeing with terrorist organisations etc.

But prosperity depends on access to resources. Control over these resources dictates prosperity. Don't you think wars will be fought over this like in the Middle East?

[SacredWolf]

I read a book a couple of years ago about the next 100 years (forget the name but it might have actually been The Next 100 Years) and it speculates the rise of Mexico as a major economic power and Turkey gaining regional hegemony. Then as it goes on it enters a more fantastic realm, ending with Nippo-Turkish alliance in the Third World War (we win, btw). I forget who's side Russia and China are on, however...

[Rakas21]

I am going to throw one out there and suggest that the next world war would be fought between the USA/North American Superstate (union with Canada) and the African Union.

Reasons...

Russia and China form an alliance

South/Central America forms superstate (already has customs union) with strong ties to North American Superstate and China/Russia

African Union forms superstate with strong ties to China/Russian alliance and Europe

Europe chooses to take a neutral stance with strong ties to all superstates bar South/Central America

.............

North American relations break down with Russia/China as USA tries to interfere in African affairs and control of mineral wealth, war is fought funded by China/Russia (proxy war). Europe and South/Central America remain neutral.

...............

Result is that USA and Africa are decimated largely. Europe and South America both join China/Russia and global governance is created.

................................ ...........

To get to this stage however there are many smaller wars with China and Russia taking smaller states surrounding them (but not ones bordering Europe), India defeats Pakistan and joins Australia as a pro USA but neutral nation. Several African wars with a relatively peaceful Central/South America transition.

[The Socktor]

I'm pretty sure they'll be a Martian war of independence sooner or later...

[tdkr]

(Original post by Super Cicero)
2013: West vs Syria. Western victory

2021: Israel vs Muslim-brotherhood controlled Egypt; Iran sides with Egypt leading to US invasion of Iran. Israeli victory over Egypt; US victory over Iran. However, the US then has to occupy Iran and loses many lives over the next few years.

2024: War-weary US elects libertarian Rand Paul as president.

2025: President Paul leads the US out of NATO and UN. He withdraws all US troops from everywhere and America retreats into isolationism.

2027: Chinese invasion of Taiwan

2028: Russian invasion of Georgia

2030: Chinese invasion of Phillipines, followed by Vietnam and the rest of South East Asia

2031: Russian invasion of Baltic States

2032: UK votes in referendum to leave Europe after it is announced Europe will become a unified country to deal with the Russian threat.

2034: Europe launches Operation Walrus: the invasion of Britain. Europe launched a cyber attack on Britain prior to invading, knocking out our defence systems and unable to contact our navy or submarines. European forces conquer London and British government surrenders. European troops occupy Britain.

2035: Due to global warming and dwindling world oil supply, China is in desperate need of resources. It forms an alliance with Europe.

March 2036: Chinese-European joint invasion of Russia. Europe attacks Russia from the West, re-taking the Baltic States, while at the same time, Chinese forces sweep into Siberia and the Russian Far East. Due to European and Chinese missile defence shields, no Russian nukes hit their targets in Europe or China. Chinese forces reach the Ural Mountains while European forces reach Moscow (aiming all their forces there rather than splitting in 3 as Hitler did). Russia surrenders.

Nov 2036: The victorious powers of Europe and China now control most of the world, with only the isolationist US and India being the only major powers unconquered. Africa is a unified Chinese satellite state, and South America is a unified European satellite. At a joint speech in Brussels, the European and Chinese Presidents give a speech saying: "The People's Republic of China, European Union, African Union, South American Union and our conquests (Britain, Russia, South East Asia) will be re-organised into the first GLOBAL EMPIRE! For a safe and secure society!"

funny but unrealistic, US would never retreat back into isolationism as in the early part of the 20th C. doubt EU would ally themselves militarily with the Chinese but rather diplomatically.