This chapter of the Routledge Handbook of Proxy Wars (Eds. Assaf Moghadam, Vladimir Rauta, Michael Wyss) explores the character of proxy wars through the lens of great power competition, where conventional warfare remains a major concern given its potentially catastrophic consequences. These dynamics heighten the importance of proxy war as an important strategic tool short of full-scale interstate conflict. One implication is the growing reliance by countries such as Russia and China on Private Military Contractors such as the Russia-sponsored Wagner Group, which will continue to impact international stability in the foreseeable future.

Read the chapter or the entire book, here. 

Dr. Frank Hoffman is a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, Center for Strategic Research at National Defense University. The views expressed are the authors own and do not reflect those of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.