By what criteria is used in giving a World War a Number.
By historians? The media? The UN?
Example:: WWI was the "Great War", before WWII was named.
2006-07-16 17:07:48 · 8 answers · asked by Jerry G 1 in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
History will give us the answer.
2006-07-16 17:11:21 · answer #1 · answered by Trapshooter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no "official" determination. Chances are, some TV news anchor will make an offhand comment about "this looks like it's escalating into WW3!" Other news stations will have to call it that too, so it will spread, and the people call it whatever the news tells them to call it. At some point down the road, historians may look back on it and say, "Well, no, maybe that one shouldve been called WW3 or this one..." but by then the name will have stuck.
But I don't think they will call this WW3, not unless it gets a whole lot worse. All throughout the Cold War, we were constantly afraid of WW3 erupting, and of course we expected it to be nuclear, and we expected it to be the end of civilization as we know it. Because of those expectations, which are ingrained into our minds, I doubt anything short of a nuclear exchange would be called WW3.
2006-07-17 00:13:05 · answer #2 · answered by Tim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm no history expert by far, but I think that the difference between the world wars and the conflicts going on now is the formation of two definite sides that have openly declared war. Like the axis versus the allies. There will always be some levels of friendship or distrust between nations, but you don't really call it war until people officially declare war, even if there are attacks going on.
2006-07-17 00:14:10 · answer #3 · answered by martin h 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, these things are generally named after the fact. I mean, as a for instance, if I had been a soldier at the beginning fo the Hundred Year War, I probably wouldn't have stuck around very long.
Right now, we just call it the Long War because this is going to take some time.
2006-07-17 00:11:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The news Mesia of course. They call the shots. They tell you what to think. Never mind the truth. You're not at fault, I've been there too. Whenever I hear ANYTHING in the news, tv or commercial- I ask my self "Now, WHY should I believe that?"
2006-07-17 01:01:45 · answer #5 · answered by profile image 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats a very good question but i would assume it would have to involve several countries and then would be agreed on by a consensus of those countries involved. Also it would have to be one big war
2006-07-17 00:13:11 · answer #6 · answered by Ski_Bum 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those who are still alive and then experience another world war. Then it's their time to ask "If we are in World War IV.......
2006-07-17 01:03:29 · answer #7 · answered by Coring 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the media of course
2006-07-17 00:10:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋