war initiated under the belief that future conflict is inevitable, though not imminent

is distinct from preemptive war

Preventive war
which is first strike when an attack is imminent

forestall a shift in the balance of power

Preventive war aims to by strategically attacking before the balance of power

preventive has a chance to shift in the direction of the adversary

Due to the speculative nature of preventive war

in which the adversary may or may not be a future threat

preventive war is considered an act of aggression in international law

repel or defeat a perceived inevitable offensive or invasion

to
waged in an attempt gain a strategic advantage in an impending (allegedly unavoidable) war
before that threat materializes

is often confused with the term preventive war

Preemptive
violate international law
While the latter is generally considered to
fall short of the requirements of a just war
preemptive wars are more often argued to be justified or justifiable

a military conflict waged absent the justification of self-defense

Types of Waging such a war of aggression is a crime under the customary international law
wars II in its search for so-called "Lebensraum"
the military actions of the Nazi regime in World War II
are characteristic of a war of aggression

against the treaty law, or the customary international law

torture
war of usually accompanied by other crimes
such as the laws and customs of war
aggression crimes against
humanity and/or genocide

not out of self-defense

e.g. not sanctioned by the UN Security Council
Wars without international legality
not sanctioned by Article 51 of the UN Charter
can be considered wars of aggression

when two powers use third parties as substitutes

a. war that results
for fighting each other directly

as the groups fighting for a certain nation

usually have their own interests
b. It is almost impossible to have a pure proxy war
which are often divergent from those of their patron

whole governments
proxy war
terrorist groups
Powers can use as proxies
mercenaries
c. other third parties

can strike an opponent

It is hoped that these groups
without leading to full-scale war

Types of wars II.mmap - 04/06/2009 - Carlos Mondragón