2007-03-20 08:21:43 · 9 answers · asked by charlie 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
We only have two world wars to use as examples. Many people call the Cold War and War on Terror world wars, but history is very selective and discriminating. So what do the first world wars have in common? Some have stated it above: superpowers in opposite camps with the majority of the countries on one side or the other. Also the involvement of more than one continent and ocean. The Cold War falls short because it wasn't hot and the war on terror does not involve super powers in opposite camps....just a localized war among rumps states relegated to the heap of regional conflicts.
2007-03-20 19:19:07 · answer #1 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wars are named by the historians and usually the victors. There really is not a rule of thumb for designating a war a World War. I would think that if two or more major powers and their allies would declare war on each other then the term would really be used again.
Just a note: I used to live in Europe for several years and no one called the war between 1938-1945 WWII... they just called it "The War"... they called WW1, "the Great War" or "the first war."
2007-03-20 08:29:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not usually a fixed number of counties. Nor is there a single officicial definition that all countries will use.
Generally, it counts as a World War if there are active combat operations occurring on at least three continents (three theatres in military parlance). In WW1 and WW2 that included Europe, Asia and Africa.
2007-03-20 08:25:44 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe the days are alternatively troubling, it sort of feels that small wars are poping up in all places the position and folks are taking aspects. While I do not truthfully believe that it has began, I believe if Iran and or North Korea will get concerned then it might holiday out in a global conflict.
2016-09-05 09:37:47 · answer #4 · answered by bungay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wil;l be a world war when almost all of the countries fight each other.
2007-03-20 14:55:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it has to be all or most of the great powers, with many or most of the smaller countries forced to take sides or favor one side over the other.
2007-03-20 08:26:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE MAJORIY OF THE WORLD POWERS FIGHTING.
2007-03-20 08:25:15 · answer #7 · answered by strike_eagle29 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there is a specific number.
2007-03-20 09:02:59 · answer #8 · answered by zombi86 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of them.
2007-03-20 08:24:02 · answer #9 · answered by Centurion529 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋