The Future of Conflict: The Urban Battlefield

In Chapter One, John P. Sullivan, Nathan P. Jones and Daniel Weisz Argomedo write, “Urban warfare will play a role in the resurgence of great power conflict, whether from nations seeking to recover lost territory or status like Russia and China or democratic countries in the West like Ukraine defending their national sovereignty.” These words have become prophetic as we continue to see conflict take center stage in urban centers. We must acknowledge the current trend of humanity congregating and living in urban centers. As the UN notes, 55% of the world’s population currently lives in urban areas, and this number is only expected to rise to 68% by 2050.

As humanity grows and lives in these urban centers, so does conflict. Urban spaces pose a variety of new threats and considerations to security forces who seek to mitigate civilian casualties in near-impossible scenarios. Regardless of whether these conflicts involve separate nations, organized crime, or terrorism, violence is being waged in urban centers. Currently, the battlefield has never been closer to home, and with it, a variety of technical, moral, and tactical considerations must be revisited to adapt to this environment.

Urban Operations: War, Crime, and Conflict is now available on Amazon, get your copy today.

This volume presents lessons that span from World War II battles to battles currently being fought in Ukraine and Israel. With new challenges arising in urban settings so rapidly, we must mitigate them with innovative solutions and lessons. This book, a result of collaboration among academics and experts in urban warfare, not only presents an overall understanding of urban operations and their challenges but also provides practical solutions to these evolving threats. This collective effort sets the foundation to better understand and tackle the challenges associated with urban operations, making you, the reader, an integral and empowered part of this collective effort. 

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