Proxy war is a type of warfare in which an intervening state utilizes another international actor to combat an adversary. It can occur on local, regional or global scales. Proxy wars often involve a combination of political, economic and military engagement. They can also have profound consequences on civilian populations, resulting in displaced populations, ongoing cycles of violence and weakened governance structures. They can also amplify local conflicts into wider ones among great powers.
The use of proxies can be effective in wars that do not threaten the intervening state’s vital interests and it can help minimize risks. An intervening state should carefully consider the convergence and divergence of its objectives with those of a proxy when selecting that proxy. It should also weigh its ability to control the proxy, as well as its willingness and capability to withhold information that could harm its cause.
An ideal proxy should have a clear purpose, adequate resources and clear goals. An intervening state should also limit its involvement in a conflict to the minimum necessary to achieve those goals. It should also be prepared to withdraw its support in the event that its objectives are not met or if it is not successful in influencing an outcome.
Attendees at the workshop discussed how proxies have been used by great powers throughout history, including by the US during the Vietnam War and during Russia’s war in Ukraine. They explored how the use of proxies is a feature of modern great-power competition and talked about their implications for current conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Gaza and Iran. The workshop was led by Hoover Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson and co-organized by Research Fellow David Berkey and Senior Program Manager Megan Ring.