"Total war is no longer war waged by all members of one national community against all those of another. It is total... because it may well involve the whole world"
- Jean-Paul Sartre
About this Quote
Jean-Paul Sartre's quote talks to the changing nature of war in the modern era. In the past, war was normally waged between two countries, with all members of one country battling versus all members of the other. Nevertheless, in the modern-day era, war has become far more complicated and globalized. Overall war is no longer restricted to 2 countries, but can include the whole world. This is because of the increased interconnectedness of the world, with countries and individuals being more closely linked than ever previously. As a result, a conflict in one part of the world can quickly spread to other parts, causing a worldwide dispute. This is what Sartre is referring to when he mentions total war, and it is a plain pointer of the possible repercussions of contemporary warfare.
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