ABSTRACT
The concept of vicarious war describes an approach to the conduct of war characterized by efforts to achieve strategic objectives on the cheap. Historically, it tends to be associated with strong states pursuing imperial projects abroad. As more a mindset than a predetermined set of military modalities, it can take on different forms in different contexts. For this reason, it is difficult to predict the precise forms vicarious war may take in the future, which will depend on the character of belligerents, the circumstances of its application and the wider strategic and socio-political conditions shaping its manifestation. This chapter explores the concept of vicarious war through an imperial lens and considers key drivers and developments in the United States, its preeminent contemporary exponent, to extrapolate possible future trajectories. Vicarious warfare is a shape-shifter, adapting to fit the concerns and opportunities of actors attempting to apply force in this evasive manner. Whether it continues to define the strategic pursuits of the United States, or of other powerful states, will likely be determined by the confluence of unfolding realities in several critical spheres and the broader evolution of the geopolitical environment.
