The macrotechnology of conflict

Decision makers must balance between two classes of economic activities: pr oduction and conflict. Analogous to the familiar technology of production a nd exchange is the technology of conflict and struggle, applicable not only to military combat but also in domains such as redistributive politics, st rikes and lockouts, litigation, and crime. The conflict success function (C SF) takes as inputs the fighting efforts on the two sides and generates as outputs the respective degrees of success achieved. A crucial determinant o f the outcome is the decisiveness parameter, which scales the degree to whi ch force preponderance translates into differential success. Because succes s feeds on success, in the long run a hegemonic outcome is likely unless th e decisiveness parameter is relatively low. The CSF can be adjusted to dist inguish between offense and defense, allow for geography and organization, or even display how intangible considerations such as truth or morality can promote success.