A total war is a war that involves every aspect of the country, this means it isn't just a militaristic conflict, rather, the entire economy is engaged in the war. This means that it is less regulated and includes larger amounts of participation: where nations are willing to do whatever it takes to win. Warfare will control the entire society- civilians participate and economies work towards the war effort- and sides are generally resistant to compromise which allows a war to escalate into this large-scale conflict known as a total war.
For example, both World War I and World War II were considered total wars because they involved civilians and economies of respective nations.
Total war, military conflict in which the contenders are willing to make any sacrifice in lives and other resources to obtain a complete victory, as distinguished from limited war. Throughout history, limitations on the scope of warfare have been more economic and social than political.
He argued that the essential natural (human) right was “to use his own power, as he will himself for the preservation of his own Nature that is to say of his own Life"
