What is the term for a military's strategy of seeking to defeat the enemy by targeting its economy?

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The term that describes a military's strategy of seeking to defeat the enemy by targeting its economy is "Total War." This approach involves mobilizing all available resources, including industrial, economic, and civilian capabilities, to weaken the enemy's ability to fight. Total War not only focuses on battlefield engagements but also aims to disrupt the enemy’s economic infrastructure, cut off supply lines, and diminish morale among the civilian population, thereby creating a situation where the opposing side cannot sustain its war efforts.

For instance, during World War II, both the Allied and Axis powers engaged in Total War strategies, targeting not only military objectives but also factories, transportation networks, and civilian resources essential for the enemy’s war machine. This strategy represents a shift from traditional warfare, where battles were more focused on engagements between military forces and did not involve the broader economic devastation of the opponent.

Other strategies such as Guerrilla Warfare, Blitzkrieg, and Shock and Awe have different focuses. Guerrilla Warfare typically involves smaller, mobile forces using hit-and-run tactics against a larger conventional army. Blitzkrieg emphasizes rapid, coordinated attacks using speed and surprise. Shock and Awe involves overwhelming force to quickly incapacitate an enemy's ability to respond. Each of these strategies serves specific tactical or operational purposes

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