War Among the People: The trend in modern warfare
Retired British General Rupert Smith has written a very interesting book about the evolution of warfare throughout history, entitled 'The Utility of Force.'
He points out that in the past, war was fought between nations, largely over the control of territory. World War II, was the last big territorial war. But today the roots of war are different. Now war is not predominantly between nations, but between ethnic or religious groups, and the goal is not to gain more territory, but to impose cultural, ideological, religious, or ethnic values.
He cites as examples the Balkan War of the 1990s, which was driven by ethnic conflict, as well as the current conflicts in Afghanistan, which is an ideological conflict between the fundamentalist Taliban and those who would have a more open society. There is also the continuing conflict in Israel, and of course the War in Iraq, which involves numerous ethnic, religious, and nationalist groups with conflicting visions for life in their future society, and who are willing to fight one another to assure the predominance of their own vision.