Military Escalation: A Key Issue for National Security Professionals

Military escalation involves actions that increase the intensity of warfare. Since the earliest days of human conflict, it has played a significant role in shaping battles, and its effects may reach far beyond those on the battlefield itself. Examples range from the decision in a war to introduce a new weapon to the use of conscription. Military escalation is a key issue for national security professionals to consider when making decisions about the employment of military assets. The academic literature offers useful frameworks that can help guide military planners and staff officers in thinking about when and how to employ a tool of escalation.

Conflict escalation is often tactical and exploits comparative advantages in weapons and capabilities. However, it is also a fundamental part of military strategy. Napoleon Bonaparte and Heinz Guderian advocated that highly-successful military tactics exploit a form of conflict escalation that reduces an adversary’s reaction time and allows the tactician to pursue or trap his opponent.

In the strategic context, escalation is driven by both public rhetoric and changes in capabilities, but it also arises from patterns of behavior. The Iranian-Israeli case illustrates how escalation ladders can be tremendously complex, with concurrent strategies and dynamics at work. Geographical realities can also shape escalation. The sparse habitation in the Himalayas makes it difficult to place large military assets, such as tanks, planes, and artillery, in close proximity to each other and limits their effectiveness. This limits the frequency of larger, local battles, thereby slowing escalation.