Proxy Warfare: The Strategy that Lets Small Powers Challenge Superpowers

BIPSS Research Assistant Nazmul Islam Mahmud discusses how the advanced use of proxy warfare enabled the allowance of secondary powers to manipulate the great power conflicts to gain local autonomy and dictate the conditions of war.  He argues that its development can be seen as evidence of a world in which the influence of the superpowers is no longer growing, making the middle-level powers more active in their regions, and making them choose not to be allied to one of the hegemonies.  He concludes by saying that the traditional order of proxy warfare is being challenged by the methods of the small and middle powers using the strategic agency to control competition between Washington and Beijing, employing maritime gray-zone operations and technology force multiplier to master regional autonomy and prevent superpower encroachment.