Charles Edward Callwell and the Cyclical Nature of Small Wars

Abstract

In this study the author, based on the cyclical nature of the international system, introduces the major observations on small wars of a British classic, Charles Edward Callwell who is not very much known in Hungary. He makes it clear that the description of Callwell on small wars bears, to a great extent, similarities with conflicts erupted in the first two decades of the 21st century. Callwell’s work explains that the combination of symmetry and asymmetry, high and low intensity, state and non-state actors, regular and irregular forces, traditional and non-traditional warfare always contain the possibility of so-called gray zone situations.