The application of these principles may not look the same in each era, with changes in technology, the character of conflicts, and the personality of the actors.
"Defence must be more adaptable, able to respond quickly to the changes in the security environment and the character of conflict.
It warns that "the character of conflict has changed, necessitating capabilities to defeat a wide range of adversaries from states to non-state actors".
Much visionary thinking has been undertaken by UK military chiefs about the Future Character of Conflict and the lighter, nimbler, more flexible and adaptable forces we will need.
(Lockheed already gets one in every four American defence-procurement dollars).Laying out his new theories on war, Mr Gansler argues that computers and electronics are changing the character of conflict more fundamentally than did the longbow, gunpowder and machinegun.
"Many observers say that the character of conflict changes because of such things as technological advances.
To this end, script gurus like Robert McKee have brainwashed a generation of screenwriters into constructing scenarios along rigid lines: introduction of characters, statement of conflict, development of narrative, division into three acts, carefully placed climaxes, conclusion.
There have been studies (Kaimba et al. 2011; Mkutu 2010) to assess the drivers and mitigation mechanism for the resource-based conflicts in pastoral areas, but it has hardly been possible to analyse the motives and challenges posed by violent conflicts because of the complexity and multidimensional character of the conflicts in the region.
Although the number of armed conflicts around the world has decreased from a peak of 52 in 1991, the character of these conflicts has changed.
