  In this paper I propose a 'mechanism' for the explanation of power-law
characteristics of casualty dynamics in inter-state wars, intra-state wars and
terrorist attacks: the scale-free physical organization of social systems.
Other explanations - self-organized criticality (Cederman, 2003) and the
redistribution of total attack capabilities (Johnson et al. 2006) - do not
provide a consistent framework for the power-law characteristics of casualty
dynamics. The development in time of the power-law characteristics of casualty
dynamics during wars and conflicts provides clues for the 'functioning' of
social systems which are targeted, and/or for the (in)effectiveness and
strategies of actors using force (violence) against these social systems.
