What is the difference between a limited war and a total war?

Question

a. Limited war focuses on destroying the enemy and has a limited goal. With total war, the goals are not limited and are often numerous and specific

b. Limited war does not target civilians or infrastructure because the invading force is planning to keep the land they conquer. With a total war, those limits do not exist because the goal is destruction of the enemy.

c. Limited war does not target civilians or infrastructure because of the rules of engagement that both sides agree to ahead of time. Total war does not have agreed-upon rules of engagement.'

d. Limited war targets civilians and infrastructure because it has a limited scope of focus, while total war targets everything because it has no focus.

Answer 1

The best answer to the question regarding the difference between limited war and total war is:

b. Limited war does not target civilians or infrastructure because the invading force is planning to keep the land they conquer. With a total war, those limits do not exist because the goal is destruction of the enemy.

This option accurately reflects the fundamental distinctions between limited and total war. Limited wars typically aim for specific objectives and often seek to minimize collateral damage, especially to civilian targets, as the conflict is usually about achieving specific political goals while preserving the possibility of future governance. In contrast, total war involves full mobilization of resources and is characterized by the targeting of not just military objectives but also civilian infrastructure, aiming fundamentally at the enemy's complete destruction and capacity to wage war.