Will there ever be another world war?

[Dis]

I just can't see it happening. Not to say it's impossible. These things are hard to predict after all. I doubt anyone predicted a world war in 1919. But the decline of imperialism has helped alot in alleviate possible sparks for world wars.

[Datajack Franit]

There will be a 3rd world war within the next 25 years

[Dis]

details? I'd like to prepare.

[notyoueither]

The US, India, and the remenants of the Commonwealth vs the EU and Russia with China as an interested onlooker.

[notyoueither]

It'll be over the camps set up in Britain for 're-education'.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Seems to me the question is, how to involve the world?

The first World War was a "world war" (as opposed to a European war) only because of the imperial holdings of the participants. (The same could be said for the real first world war: The Seven Years War/French-and-Indian War)

The second World War was a world war because two distinct powers with non-overlapping imperial ambitions teamed up and made their moves simultaneously.

West vs. Islam could be a world war, I guess, especially if China is backing teh Islamic world in exchange for oil.

[GePap]

World War to m means a general war involving all the great powers in the system.

That seems higly unlikely. Modern weapons are both extremely destructive, and extremely expensive. I don;t think the same kind of long term industrial realignment of resources and manpower could be carried out to form and move around vast armies equiped with modern vehicles and such. more importantly, nuclear weapons make such a war unlikely, as any state close to defeat could just threaten to exterminate its enemy.

So no, I don;t see a world war being likely. Its not impossible, but highly improbable.

[Ninot]

I think with globalization, the possibility of a world war is made almost impossible.

At most, you'll get conflict on 2 continents, I figure.

[Dis]

although nuclear war is of course going to be global.

but again, why would china attack the U.S. or any nation on another continent? there is too much to lose. Even over Taiwan. And the U.S. has too much to lose getting involved in Taiwan as well.

[Geronimo]

I frankly doubt there will be any war between any two great powers again. Sure tensions can escalate but the same forces that derailed the escalation of the cuban missle crisis have only grown stronger in the years since.

[Proteus_MST]

Just like Rufus,
I think that the most likely scenario are some islamist countries (for example Sudi Arabia, after the revolution has swept away the current rulers) backed by one other nuclear power (China, Russia) fight against the USA (which will bring the EU into the war due to the treaties with the USA)

[Ted Striker]

I am invading St Cloud USA right now check it before you wreck it trukaz!!!!!

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Geronimo
I frankly doubt there will be any war between any two great powers again. Sure tensions can escalate but the same forces that derailed the escalation of the cuban missle crisis have only grown stronger in the years since.

I doubt it.

You could count on responsible stewardship of nuclear arsenals from the rulers in Moscow and Washington. They might not have been the brightest bulbs in the house, but they had a simple situation to deal with and they valued the lives of their people.

I'm not convinced that all of the new powers can be counted on to feel the same way, nor to navigate a much more complicated board.

[Kassiopeia]

200 years is a very long time, but extrapolating from the current situation, I don't think so. If one does break out, it's probably far enough into the future nobody will remember me predicting it wouldn't.

Edit: OTBOT agrees with me

Edit: OTBOT agreed with me

[notyoueither]

Youir post just isn't evil enough.