In recent years, researchers and military experts have started to refer to contemporary armed conflicts as 'new wars'. Whereas the 'old wars' were the business and prerogative of states--at least so we are told--these 'new wars' mark the end of the state as a monopolist of violence. Dr. Winter will also ask is the loss of the state monopoly on violence really novel, or is this just old wine in new skins? And if these wars aren't so 'new' after all, then what is the significance, at our historical moment, of this discourse?
