Distance Effect

Distance is a heterogeneous and complex notion, especially when it is viewed through the prism of war. To examine fully the role that distance [Page 507]assumes in the act of wartime killing, it is necessary to keep in mind that distance is not only a matter of geography (i.e., the physical space that separates combatants from each other). There are, in addition, three other dimensions that must be taken into account: These are visual, psychological, and moral distances. Many observers argue that distance during war brings about mainly negative effects. This entry examines the physical, visual, psychological, and moral distance issues in war and discusses how, far from being simple, distance can, in fact, bring about either negative or positive effects.

Thus, the main effects of ...