What defines military force in an international context?

The definition of military force in an international context is best captured by organized political violence. This concept encompasses the use of armed forces by states or political actors to achieve specific objectives, such as territorial control, defense, or coercion. Military force involves not only the deployment of armed personnel and weapons but also the strategic planning and execution of violence with an organized structure within the framework of political goals.

By identifying military force as organized political violence, we acknowledge that it is not merely random acts of aggression or isolated incidents. Instead, it is systematically employed and usually sanctioned by a government or recognized entity, operating under a broader context of political strategy and international relations. This understanding aligns with theories of state behavior in international relations, where military capabilities and the willingness to use them can significantly impact diplomacy and power dynamics between states.

In contrast, economic pressure refers to non-violent means of coercion, negotiations and treaties focus on diplomacy and conflict resolution without armed conflict, and volunteer peacekeeping missions generally involve the maintenance of peace rather than the exertion of military force for offensive or defensive purposes. Therefore, organized political violence distinctly characterizes military force within the international arena.