Libertarian Theory of War. 2. Theory of War.
Hooray, the war is over! No matter how poorly it turned out, the mere fact of transitioning to peace will bring you relief, for you are no longer subject to the relentless logic of mobilizing all forces for a single goal. However, before you breathe a joyful sigh and engage in various peaceful activities befitting a libertarian, it is worth summarizing what happened and drawing conclusions for the future.
2.5.1. Personal Changes
The most subjectively important thing for you, especially if this was your first war, will most likely be that you have changed. Or you didn’t change, but you discovered something that had been in you for a long time, you just hadn’t realized it.
For example, if before the war even an attempt of a non-lethal attack on you seemed like something extraordinary, worthy of long anxiety and bewilderment as to how it could have happened, then during the war it became routine; attacks could happen at any moment, and usually with the intent to kill. The same happened with your readiness to kill. Those who have been to war are feared for good reason, and to reduce this factor, additional measures are needed.
It is very important to fix the arrival of peace in your consciousness, that is, the return to the sphere of completely different, strange, complex, and unfamiliar non-military rules. How you do this—through work with a psychologist, regular use of aggression-reducing substances, or through a cleansing ritual in a temple—are merely technical details determined by cultural norms.
You will also inevitably begin to more clearly identify those circumstances—the environment, personality traits of people, and so on—that are linked to military effectiveness. A place that you would previously have evaluated in terms of beauty, you will now evaluate primarily in terms of security. People’s behavior will signal to you how dangerous they would be as enemies and how reliable as allies. This is a useful skill, but it is desirable that you learn to use it consciously rather than allowing this habit to define your peaceful life.
There will be many other changes in character, but any serious trial changes a person, so there is no need to fear changes as such; just do not forget to reflect on them. Peaceful life will allow you to make necessary corrections if needed.
2.5.2. Gains
First and foremost, gains include the achieved goal of the war, whether it be cutting short those who encroached on your resources, eliminating an object of hatred, or liberation. Other bonuses obtained under the terms of a peace treaty are also possible.
We also include developed skills for acting in combat situations. It will be easier for you to prepare for a new war, sell your skills as a mercenary, instructor, or security guard, help in the development of military equipment and games, or publish a volume of memoirs.
The reputation of a person who entered a just war and ended it with honor is also valuable. Even more valuable is the self-respect that emerged on the same basis. This, however, is not a reason to obsessively demand respect from others if such merits are insignificant in their value system.
2.5.3. Losses
War is an expensive venture, so you will incur enormous losses. Time will be lost, health may be undermined, a huge amount of resources will be spent, and a multitude of irreversible actions will be committed that you will regret. Furthermore, you may not achieve the goals of the war, because of which all these losses will seem, if not completely futile, then at least unjustified.
One way or another, unless we are talking about specific broken promises that you allowed yourself to be persuaded by to enter the war, it is better to write off these losses and focus on the positives: the experience gained, the acquaintances made, and the accumulated desire to quickly engage in peaceful creative work, making up for lost days.
2.5.4. Strategy Adjustment
However, accumulated experience itself is worth little without analysis. You will have to relive the entire war in light of the knowledge you gained during combat operations and the knowledge you gained ex post facto. By understanding what was done correctly and where the mistakes were, you will—like a textbook general—be perfectly prepared for the previous war. Therefore, you must next rise to a higher level of abstraction and identify those aspects that helped you (or your opponent) act effectively under conditions of the fog of war, lack of resources, uncertainty regarding the motivation of allies, and other factors that defy reliable planning.
The next war may turn out to be completely different, so it is important to realize that many of the tactical techniques you learned, which performed so well in this war, will be fatally ineffective in a new one. Therefore, concentrate precisely on adaptability, the readiness to quickly abandon once vital practices that have suddenly become deadly, and the ability to filter reliable information from piles of garbage—skills that could be called “staff” skills, if they were actually characteristic of staff workers.
2.5.5. Changing the Info-field
Every war changes the world. New technologies feverishly implemented during the war begin to be just as actively implemented in peaceful life. The pre-war balance of power becomes irrelevant, and people adapt to new realities. War brings new people into the public eye, both by chance and by merit. War redistributes wealth.
In a sense, after the war everyone will have to learn to live anew, both those who fought and those who avoided it. Many will find this difficult. A major war creates entire lost generations. A small one—just a handful of confused people. You don’t necessarily have to become the most successful person in the world, but I hope you can at least avoid getting lost in this new world.
If it is easier for you, you can view peaceful life as, for example, the reconnaissance phase of a new military operation, or in some other way so that military experience helps you—although it is, of course, desirable not to abuse direct combat experience (consider that in this operation, stealth is absolutely necessary for you).
2.5.6. Changes in the World of Spirits
The spirits will also be affected by war. The first victims of any reasonably prolonged war are, on one hand, the spirits of nobility, and on the other, the spirits of patriotism. The spirit of freedom is forced to retreat before the spirit of expediency. If you organize your war correctly, the spirit of combat camaraderie will begin to exert a significant influence on you.
It is not customary to discuss spirits aloud because it would be perceived as pathos and propaganda, and propaganda, as everyone knows, can only be deceptive. But a good, strong spirit does not need to be summoned with words. Its presence will be felt anyway.
Listen to the spirits. They give meaning to what you do in this war. And conversely, those who do not feel the presence of a spirit lose any incentive to continue fighting.
After the war, you will have to live with new spirits, and this may initially bring serious disappointment. It is no surprise that many turn to spiritual quests after wars. Do not neglect this, but do not get overly carried away, for spirits are merely conceptual subjects making moral demands of you. Perhaps you have actually earned the right for these demands to decrease for a while.