What ways could a war be waged without the use of violence or force?

Question

List all the "peaceful" means a war could be fought and won. Use your imagination and list historic examples of such things happening.

War IS NOT an episode of prolonged violence. Warfare is used to establish control, influence and enforce one's will over others through any means necessary. It an extension of politics by other means. Politics is the art of establishing control and influence over others may it be through persuasion or force and remove your enemy's ability to exert influence and control over others. Therefore in order to establish control, force is not always necessary to achieve this end.

A good historic example is the Byzantine Empire. They considered diplomacy as an extension and as another war to wage war and they did this often with success. Why waste resources on needless battles if you are able to negotiate your enemy into a weaker position and into a corner. Yet diplomacy is considered an instrument of peace these days, yet however this was not always so.

Germany during WW2 was caught trying to smuggle over millions of counterfeit dollar bills in submarines as a means to collapse the American economy and cause inflation. During the 1990's, Clinton was caught soliciting campaign funds from the Chinese government. What better way to establish control over another country then influence the president's decisions through legal bribery? These are a few examples.

Answer 1

Trade sanctions, exorbitant tarriffs, embargoes, controlling the money transfers re international banking like World Bank and international monetary funds.

Answer 2

The best way to win a war is to make the other side realize they will not have a chance if it starts. That is considered the best kind of victory, where the other guy surrenders before the first shot is fired. Paraphrasing Sun Tzu

However, war is defined as controlled use of force and violence. What you want is some other way to resolve differences without war. I think that was what the League of Nations and the United Nations are suppose to do. Too bad neither of them were effective.

Answer 3

Kool question! How about (after WWII) the the Soviet Union blocking access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin, which was deep within the Soviet zone of Germany, by cutting off all rail and road routes going through Soviet-controlled territory in Germany. The US fought back without use of violence by forming what's known as the Berlin Airlift hence averting war and embarrassing the Russians.

Answer 4

You could surround your enemy and not let them leave or have supplies get in to them. Then wait. This would eventually starve your enemy to surrender without a shot being fired. But this would be rare. Battles are won with extreme violence brought down upon your enemy.
So your theory, while a nice thought, is unrealistic.

Answer 5

The best way to win a war without fighting, it's been talked about for a long time, especially in the art of war. Heck the first chapter of it is "Win all Without Fighting". And the best way to fight a war without violence is not to start a war. Use diplomacy to force your opponent to do what you want.

Answer 6

I can think of many ways..
1. Rock, paper, scissors
2. Simon Says
3. Chess
4. Spelling War anyone?

Answer 7

There will always be some wars, but the best way to control them is for countries to not get involved where we don't belong. like Viet Nam , and Iraq

Answer 8

Warfare is never peaceful. It does how ever lead to peace until a whack job somewhere in the world decides to upset that balance. ie Saddam, crazy whacked out Muslims raping their religion ect...

Answer 9

War is a prolonged state of violent, large-scale conflict involving two or more groups of people.

Answer 10

i think the definition of war is violence and force