How does (if at all) the 'War on Terror' represent a different era from the 20th century's conventional wars?

Essay from the year 2007 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: USA, grade: Distinction, Macquarie University, course: IRPG 831 Politics, Law & Morality of International Political Violence, language: English, abstract: Despite the persistence of traditional threats, the current 'War on Terror' represents the current mode of conflict's transition into a new era of warfare. After shortly reviewing the traditionalist position, the paper will examine the characteristics of current warfare in the effort to combat terrorism. Thereby a closer look will be taken at the nature of potential enemies, their operational setting and the role of information and media, before drawing on the evaluation of modern warfare in an age of globalisation.