The scope, objectives, and participants of Total War and Civil War are fundamentally different. Total war refers to a large-scale, unrestricted conflict in which nations mobilise all available resources and employ any means necessary to achieve victory, frequently with disregard for the laws of war and civilian casualties. It typically involves multiple nations and seeks total dominance or destruction of the adversary. World War II is an exemplary instance of Total war.
Conversely, civil war occurs within a single nation and involves factions or groups vying for control of the government, territory, or other political objectives. Civil Wars are characterised by internal strife, frequently fueled by ideological, ethnic, or religious differences. The American Civil War (1861-1865) is a prime example of this form of war. Total war is a large-scale, international conflict seeking absolute supremacy, whereas Civil War is an internal conflict between factions within a single nation.
What is Total War?
Total war is a massive, all-encompassing war that uses all of a country’s resources and society to win the war. The unrestricted use of weapons, tactics, and strategies characterises this kind of war. The established laws of war, humanitarian concerns, and the difference between fighters and non-combatants are often ignored. Total war tries to control or get rid of the enemy completely. This can lead to a lot of innocent deaths and a lot of damage. During Total War, a country’s whole people and economy are focused on the war. Many people are forced to join the military, and industries are reorganised to make arms, ammunition, and other important wartime goods. Governments may keep tight control over the media and communications, using propaganda to keep people happy and stop them from speaking out against the government.
Total war also means using any means necessary to defeat the enemy. This includes strategic bombing operations that target civilian populations and infrastructure, “scorched earth” tactics and the use of weapons of mass destruction. As the rules of engagement are not followed, there may be more war crimes and human rights violations. In history, the idea of Total war started with the Napoleonic Wars and peaked with World Wars I and II, both large-scale, destructive wars that involved many countries, ran for years, and killed millions of people. Total war is the most intense kind of war, with deep effects that last a long time for everyone involved.
What is Civil War?
A civil war is an armed battle within one country between factions or groups that want to control the government, the territory, or other political goals. This kind of war is marked by divisions within the country, often caused by differences in ideas, ethnicity, or religion. Civil wars can kill many people, cause chaos in society, and have long-lasting effects on the country involved. During a Civil War, opposing groups generally have different political, social, or cultural goals. To reach these goals, they may form their military forces. The conflict can have many sides, such as political parties, secessionist movements, or insurgent groups. Each side wants to show that it is the strongest or gets freedom. Civil wars can also bring in help from other countries or foreign groups, worsening the conflict and changing how it turns out.
During a Civil War, the fighting can range from small, random clashes to large-scale, long-lasting battles. Civilians can be significantly hurt because infrastructure can be destroyed, vital services can be interrupted, and communities can be torn apart. As the lines between fighters and civilians blur, forced displacement, human rights violations, and war crimes may also happen. In the past, civil wars have caused governmental instability, economic decline, and social strife in the countries involved. The American Civil War from 1861 to 1865, the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939, and the Syrian Civil War from 2011 to the present are all examples of civil wars.
Difference Between Total War and Civil War
Differences in scale, aims, and combatants distinguish total war from civil war as two separate forms of armed conflict. Total war is a global, unconstrained conflict in which all nations involved use all of their available resources and weapons to try to win. A civil war, on the other hand, takes place within a single country, with rival groups or factions vying for power and territory. Total war is an international battle with the goal of absolute victory, while Civil War is fought within a nation’s borders between competing political and social groups. We have highlighted the main differences between total war and civil war below.
Scope
The difference between a civil war and a total war is that the latter occurs within the borders of a single country and involves factions or organisations within that country, while the former occurs between nations.
Objectives
The goal of a civil war is to take control of the government and/or territory, whereas the purpose of total war is to dominate or annihilate the enemy.
Participants
During a total war, numerous independent nations unite to fight a common foe. In contrast, parties involved in a civil war are from the same country.
Strategies and Tactics
When it comes to Total war, the rules of war and the needs of civilians are thrown out the window. Due to the internal character of a civil war, damaging techniques may be more focused or limited.
Resource Mobilisation
A nation must devote its whole population and economy to the war effort to wage a “total war.” Even though civil wars can impact a country’s economy, they typically do not require the same level of mobilisation of resources.
International Involvement
Numerous nations form alliances and experience geopolitical repercussions when they choose sides in a total war. Occasionally, outside parties will get involved in a civil war, although it will be on a smaller scale or in the form of support for one of the factions rather than a full-blown invasion.
