The emergence of a unique military perspective on urban warfare

In a recent study, Associate Professor of War Studies Anna Danielsson explores how the U.S. military’s understanding of urban warfare has developed and evolved from the mid-19th century to the present day.

Anna Danielsson’s research reveals that, in recent decades, the U.S. military has gradually shifted its thinking and approach to warfare in urban environments.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the vulnerability and significance of cities in war, something we have long recognised. However, in this article, I highlight that there is something new and unique in how the U.S. military understands and approaches urban conflicts and urban warfare," she explains.

The need for specialised urban knowledge

Rather than simply adapting traditional military concepts to urban environments, urban warfare is now seen as a distinct domain that requires specialised knowledge of cities' complexity and internal dynamics in wartime.

"The emergence of a perspective that views the urban as a military intervention object has evolved over time. This essentially involves using a specialised form of military knowledge production to conceptualise the urban environment as a 'system' or 'organism'. The focus is on targeting the 'diseased' (conflict-affected) parts of the system, rather than the city as a whole," says Anna Danielsson.

An example of this development is the United States’ joint doctrine for military operations in urban environments, published in 2013.

"It contains several formulations that point to the emergence of the urban as a military intervention object requiring a specialised form of military knowledge production," Danielsson notes.

Tensions in views on urban warfare

Her focus on the development of perspectives on urban warfare is partly driven by the tension in the research literature on urban conflicts and urban warfare, particularly regarding whether and how these have changed over time.

"On the one hand, urban warfare is often viewed as a future challenge, especially by military organisations that emphasise the need to prepare for such scenarios. On the other hand, urban conflicts have a long history and have shaped humanity’s urban development over time. This tension inspired me to investigate whether there are new and unique features in contemporary urban warfare," she explains.

Historical ontological and discursive method

In her research, Danielsson applied a historical ontological and discursive method, drawing on a wide range of sources—from US doctrines dating back to the mid-20th century to letters and biographies written during urban operations, as well as articles in American military journals.

"The findings offer insights into how the U.S. military’s views on warfare in and against cities have evolved over time. This knowledge is significant both for other military organisations, given the strong influence of the U.S. military on other Western nations, and for researchers interested in what distinguishes contemporary urban warfare," she concludes.