A Brief History of Proxy Warfare Part I: Ancient to Modern

This chapter looks at the history of proxy wars from ancient times to the end of World War I. The utility of proxies closely tracks how greater powers compete. So, reviewing how proxies’ use by great powers has evolved makes sense. The Peloponnesian War, for example, illustrates the perils for both sponsor and proxy for escalation and underestimating the costs of war. Roman use of “barbarian” tribes to secure its frontiers illustrates the utility of proxies for managing far-flung empires but the fact they participated in Rome’s demise also illustrates the pitfalls. The Hundred Years War, which occurred as the world transitioned from the Dark Ages to the Enlightenment, aptly illustrates how proxies can fuel a war that would have otherwise ended and undermine efforts to establish peace. The British East India Company, for its part, reflects a “layered” approach where the Company employed proxies to manage its interests but itself was a proxy for the British Crown who employed it to manage its risks. The Hungarian Revolution is perhaps an anomaly, where the British exercised prudence and did not intervene despite having good, moral, and self-interested reasons to support the Hungarian Nationalists. The chapter ends with a discussion of proxy use during World War I, which, while not decisive, amplified the effects of conventional forces with varying degrees of success.