Functional Models of the Sponsor-Agent Relationship in Proxy Warfare

Abstract

Proxy wars are a form of confrontation whose origins are lost in the mists of history. In the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century, this type of war experienced a sharp development due to the changes that took place on the international scene. Due to the fact that the great powers avoided direct confrontation during the Cold War, for fear that this confrontation would degenerate into a new conventional or even nuclear world war, they chose to use proxy warfare as a pressure relief valve, a way to put the opponent in difficulty, to gain influence or even economic, political or other benefits. Proxy wars can take place both between states and between groups within a state, or between a terrorist group, paramilitary organisation, etc. and a state, and the common element is given by the fact that one or both of the parties benefit from external support, especially in the form of armaments, ammunitions, intelligence, expertise, advice from a sponsor of which it becomes an agent. In exchange for the sponsor's support, the agent offers him a series of advantages, influence, etc. The sponsor obtains strategic advantages without direct involvement, without exposing himself and without settling national and international image costs, while the agent is actively involved in combat operations, it is he who must ensure the achievement of objectives to satisfy both his own expectations and those of the sponsor.