Which type of war involves armed conflict between major powers where total resources may be employed?

The type of war that involves armed conflict between major powers, where total resources may be employed, is characterized as "general war." This form of warfare encompasses the full mobilization of a nation's military and economic resources, indicating that these conflicts are not limited to specific tactical or operational objectives but instead involve comprehensive strategies that can affect entire nations.

General war typically includes existential threats to national sovereignty, where nations may engage in extensive combat across various domains, encompassing land, air, and sea. Such conflicts often result in significant destruction and can involve large-scale mobilization of personnel and resources. This distinguishes general war from other types of warfare, which may focus on limited objectives, such as low-intensity conflicts that might only utilize a small portion of a country's military capabilities or tactical warfare that primarily concentrates on small-scale engagements and specific military operations.