An agent that is legally authorized, usually through a power of attorney document, to act on the behalf of another party. A proxy is often used by shareholders unable to attend an annual meeting so that the absent investor may still cast their vote on corporate governance issues.
A proxy, in the context of computer networks, is a server or a software that acts as an intermediary between a client (e.g. a user's computer) and other servers. It receives requests from clients and forwards them to other servers, then returns the responses back to the clients.
Proxies are often used for various purposes, such as:
There are different types of proxies, such as forward proxies, reverse proxies, and open proxies, each with their own specific use cases and configurations.
A proxy war is a conflict in which superpowers or major powers indirectly engage in warfare through third parties or surrogates, rather than fighting each other directly. This allows them to avoid the costs and risks of direct military confrontation while still pursuing their strategic objectives.
In a proxy war, the major powers provide support, such as funding, training, weapons, and intelligence, to their respective allies or proxy forces, which then engage in combat or other forms of conflict against each other. The support can be covert or overt, and the level of involvement can vary.
Proxy wars can be motivated by a variety of factors, such as ideological differences, geopolitical interests, or economic considerations. They can be fought in various ways, such as through guerrilla warfare, terrorism, insurgency, or conventional warfare.
Proxy wars can have significant consequences for the countries and people directly involved, as well as for the wider region and the international community. They can lead to prolonged conflict, human suffering, and instability, and can be difficult to resolve due to the complex web of interests and alliances involved.
Some historical examples of proxy wars include the Cold War conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, as well as the more recent conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
