World War III Historical Scenarios Use Of The Term

World War III is the name given to a hypothetical world war, initially supposed to be fought between superpowers with weapons of mass destruction, usually nuclear weapons. Superpower confrontation was deemed to be the major threat in the latter half of the 20th century, where the Cold War saw the capitalist United States face the communist USSR. This conflict was presumed to result in the exterminationIn biology and ecology, extinction is the disappearance of a species or group of species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of that species. In species which reproduce sexually, extinction of a species or technological impoverishment of humanHuman beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. Biologically, they are classified as Homo sapiens ( Latin for knowing man , a primate species of mammal with a highly developed brain. In spirituaity.

Such a globally destructive war with such pervasive weapons ranks with asteroidAn asteroid is a small, solid object in our Solar System, orbiting the Sun. An asteroid is an example of a minor planet (or planetoid , which are much smaller than planets. The asteroids are believed to be remnants of the protoplanetary disc which were no impact, a hostile technological singularityIn futurology, a technological singularity is a predicted point in the development of a civilization at which technological progress accelerates beyond the ability of present-day humans to fully comprehend or predict. The Singularity is sometimes used mor, and catastrophic climate changeThe term climate change is used to refer to changes in the Earth's climate. In the most general sense, it can be taken to mean changes over all timescales and in all of the components of climate, including precipitation and clouds as well as temperature. as an " extinction-level eventAn extinction event (also extinction-level event ELE is a period in time when a large number of species die out. The normal background rate of extinctions is about two to five families of marine invertebrates and vertebrates every million years. Since lif".

1 Historical scenarios

When asked what kind of weapons World War III would be fought with, Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein ( March 14 1879 April 18 1955) was a theoretical physicist who is widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century. He proposed the theory of relativity and also made major contributions to the development of quantum mechanics replied:

Not all scenarios for World War III have begun with the use of nuclear weapons. Operation DROPSHOT, a since- declassified US plan, written in 1947, assumed a long period of conventional war between NATO and the Soviet Union before any nuclear weapons would be employed by both sides. The standard NATO war planning scenario assumed a Soviet attack on West Germany, in which tactical nuclear weapons would be used only if NATO forces were losing. In most war games, NATO forces faced extreme difficulty defending West Germany and used nuclear weapons first.

Before the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War, an apocalyptic war between the United States and USSR was considered likely. The Cuban missile crisis in 1962 is generally thought to be the historical point at which the risk of World War III was closest. Other potential starts have included the following (see External links below for further examples):

Certain sources also state that the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System was specifically designed to contain several sections which were flat and straight, to be used as emergency runways for nuclear bombers. This, however, is an urban legend. The United States Department of Transportation strongly denies that such a purpose exists in the Interstate highway system. However, several other nations, such as Finland and Taiwan have done so.

2 Use of the term

During a press conference soon after the start of the 1991 Gulf War King Hussein of Jordan directly referred to the conflict between the United States and its coalition of allies against Iraq as "the Third World War" but there is no indication of any other world leaders accepting the definition.

Some historians have suggested that the War on Terrorism, sparked by the September 11 attacks, may become known as the Third World War by future generations due to its world-wide scope.

3 Runaway technology

The term Gigadeath War, first used by Hugo De Garis, described a confrontation not between nations or religions but between Terrans and Cosmists, determined respectively to resist or advance artilect (" artificial intelligence" on a godlike scale) evolution beyond humans — a " technological singularity" out of human control.

This is not an isolated concept — apocalypse literature throughout the late 20th century emphasized lack of human control over war machines, e.g. Dr. Strangelove, the Terminator series, and the Matrix.

The United Nations University Millennium Project participants, in 2001, ranked technological runaways ( gene, prion, virus, robot, software or new molecules acting like any or all) as greater risks to human survival than intentional acts by humans.

4 Artistic treatments

A vast post-apocalyptic science fiction literature exists describing the likely aftermath of either, describing the impact of weapons of mass destruction. None of it describes a very happy world.

The genre of post-apocalyptic science fiction often uses post-World War III scenarios . However, these stories were found only in Western science fiction publications; Soviet writers were discouraged from writing them.

4.1 Film and television

Several notable movies have been made based on World War III, including the following:

Akira (film), anime film which took place in Japan after World War III
( 1964), a black comedy by Stanley Kubrick in which an American general Jack D. Ripper, concerned about fluoridation of drinking water, orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. Peter Sellers plays several roles in this film, including the title character, a parody of Wernher von Braun.
Fail-Safe ( 1964 and 2000), based on the novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler , involves an American atomic bomber group which mistakenly receives orders to bomb Moscow, and cannot be subsequently recalled due to fail-safe procedures designed to protect against fraudulent radio communications from Soviet imposters.
The War Game ( 1965), produced by Peter Watkins, deals with a fictional nuclear attack on Britain. This film won the Oscar for Best Documentary, but was withheld from broadcast by the BBC for several decades.
The Bed Sitting Room ( 1969), a surrealist post-nuclear comedy, adapted from the stage play by Spike Milligan and John Antrobus .
( 1970), where two (US and USSR) military artificial intelligences ally to blackmail humans into assembling more artificial intelligences like themselves.
A Boy and His Dog ( 1975), based on a short story by Harlan Ellison, takes place after World War III.
Mad Max ( 1979), and sequels such as The Road Warrior, present a post-war Australian outback where the survivors battle for oil.
World War III (miniseries), aired on US network television in 1982. A Soviet invasion of Alaska in order to seize US oilfields escalates to a nuclear exchange.
The Day After ( 1983) was a controversial ABC mini-series about a full-scale nuclear war and its aftermath, told from the viewpoint of ordinary Americans in the Midwest. The shocking and disturbing content discouraged advertisers but ensured it a tremendous ratings success.
WarGames (1983), starring Matthew Broderick, involves a teenage hacker who challenges an unknown computer system to a simulation game called "Global Thermonuclear War", only to discover that the computer controls NORAD, and the nation's leaders think the simulated Soviet attacks are the start of a real nuclear war.
Red Dawn ( 1984) is about a successful non-nuclear suprise attack by Russia against America's heartland, and a small band of teenagers that fight the occupation using guerilla tactics. Scenes of Soviet Paratroopers dropping into small towns struck a chord during the final years of Cold War paranoia in the US.
Threads (1984), a movie shown on the BBC, dealing with the short- and longer-term consequences of a nuclear attack on the city of Sheffield, England.
The Terminator series (1984, 1991 and 2003), stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cyborg warrior from a post-apocalyptic future. An AI computer starts World War III in order to eradicate humanity, and then resorts to sending killer robots back through time after the surviving humans successfully revolt.
When the Wind Blows ( 1986), a bleak cel-animated feature based on a Raymond Briggs book, which depicts an elderly couple's attempts to survive World War III through their nostalgic memories of how they survived World War II as children. Features original music by Roger Waters.
By Dawn's Early Light ( 1990), which depicts a post- Cold War explosion instigated by Soviet rebels, which causes a nuclear war to start between the United States and the Soviet Union (in its dying days). The film follows the crew of a B-52 bomber, the US President, and AWACS as events unfold.
( 1996), where the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E chases the Borg back through time to a period on Earth just 10 years after Star Trek's version of World War III. The Borg aim to attack Earth while it is still crippled from the war.
Blast from the Past ( 1999) is a comedy about a 1960's family caught in the grip of Cold War paranoia. Falsely convinced that World War III has started, they hide in their fallout shelter, only to emerge 35 years later in the post-Cold War world.
The Matrix series ( 1999 and 2003) is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are controlled and farmed by a hostile artificial intelligence. Heavy use of nuclear arms by the humans did little to damage the advancing AI armies (as seen in The Animatrix).
The Simpsons- Lisa's Wedding, dialogue in this television episode, which took place in the year 2010, mentions World War III, in which Britain saved the United States. It is not known if it was fought with nuclear weapons, which is possibly unlikely since Springfield is still mostly intact and would have most likely been destroyed in a nuclear war as it had been previously declared the "Nuclear Whipping Boy".

4.2 Literature

Notable literature dealing with World War III include:

Fail-Safe, a book which was adapted into two movies, described above; BooksEnthsiast.com.
On the Beach ( 1957), by Nevil Shute, was also made into movies of the same name ( 1959 and 2000); BooksEnthsiast.com.
Alas, Babylon, by Pat Frank, dealt with the survival of the fictional town of Fort Repose , Florida after a Soviet missile strike obliterates most of the United States; BooksEnthsiast.com.
The Third World War, August 1985 , by General Sir John Hackett, set in a 1980s war based on the NATO scenario; BooksEnthsiast.com. This same scenario was also used in Harold Coyle 's novel, Team Yankee; BooksEnthsiast.com.
Red Storm Rising, by Tom Clancy, presents a detailed, realistic scenario of World War III fought largely with conventional weapons; BooksEnthsiast.com.
The World Aflame , written by Leonard Engel and Emmanuel Piller in 1947 and set amidst a protracted nuclear war from 1950– 5.
Red Army , by Ralph Peters , told from the Soviet perspective; BooksEnthsiast.com.
Yellow Peril by Wang Lixiong, written under the pseudonym Bao Mi, about a civil war in the People's Republic of China that becomes a nuclear exchange and soon engulfs the world. It's notable for Wang Lixiong's politics, a Chinese dissident and outspoken activist, it's publication following Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and it's popularity due to bootleg distribution across China even when the book was banned by the Chinese Communist Party.
The city of ember, by Jeanne DuPrau, is set in a post-apocalyptic community, the City of Ember, built underground. The main problem of the story is the protaginists, Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet, on their quest to find the way to get out of Ember, because the city is beginning to run out of lightbulbs, the only things keeping the Emberites from dying in darkness.
JLA by Grant Morrison. Under influence by a space-faring entity, populations fight amongst themselves.

4.3 Computer games

Command_and_Conquer — real-time strategy game: terrorists (the Brotherhood of Nod) fights against an UN-like organisation (the Global Defense Initiative).
— real-time strategy game where an alternate time-line leads to conflict between the Soviets and other nations.
Wasteland — computer role-playing game set in a post-nuclear world after World War III in 1997.
Fallout — computer role-playing game set in a post-nuclear world with retro- 50s style, after World War III in 2077. Said to be the unofficial sequel to Wasteland.
Superhero League of Hoboken, a tongue-in-cheek lampoon ing of the genre

4.4 Music

The post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor's work largely deals with apocalyptic destruction and its consequences (see the lyrics to their song "The Dead Flag Blues").
The punk rock band the Clash wrote a few songs about nuclear war, notably London Calling and Ivan Meets G.I. Joe.
The satirist Tom Lehrer gained renown for several eschatologically-themed songs, including "So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III)" and "We Will All Go Together When We Go".
The heavy metal band Megadeth has numerous songs dealing with nuclear war such as the songs "Set the World Afire", "Rust in Peace... Polaris" and "Black Curtains." Nuclear war is also the inspiration for the band's name.
Weird Al penned a satirical song called "Christmas At Ground Zero" about the Christmas holiday after a nuclear war

5 See also

6 External links

Fictional wars

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