Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/World War II task force/Category restructuring

Welcome to the discussion on how to restructure the top-level operational categories, starting with Category:World War II. he reason this was created is because Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information.

Definition
Categorization is the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood. Categorization implies that objects are grouped into categories, usually for some specific purpose. Ideally, a category illuminates a relationship between the subjects and objects of knowledge. Categorization is fundamental in language, prediction, inference, decision making and in all kinds of environmental interaction.

There are many categorization theories and techniques. In a broader historical view, however, three general approaches to categorization may be identified:
 * Classical categorization
 * Conceptual clustering
 * Prototype theory

Wikipedia policy and guidelines
While the categorisation of articles is covered by a guideline, the need for categorisation is explicit in the very purpose for Wikipedia, to provide a free online reference source. It is the


 * Categories help users navigate through Wikipedia via multiple taxonomies
 * Categories are for defining characteristics, and should be specific, neutral, inclusive and follow certain conventions.

Rationale
Categories are used to provide a structure for completing the production of the reference work by identifying the areas of knowledge it contains. Ultimately in future Wikipedia will reach a stage when all the historical unique subjects of articles will be completed and to the FA level and the only additions will be the the new data being generated. While it is not necessary to create all possible categories as live categories with no articles, the Military History Project participants needs to be conscious of the fact that as a Project its ultimate goal is to be completed regardless of how far into the future that goal may be removed from now. As in any structures, the planning done before the building is the logical way to approach the construction of what is a large knowledge database. Quite simply, as with all structures, it is far easier to build it as a planned construct then to attempt periodic rebuilds during the process of the project.

The Second World War is an eminently easier subject area to deal with in terms of structuring then the Military History Project as a whole because it is chronologically limited and its subjects (participants) are relatively few in number. However, the categories used still need to conform to, and take a consistent approach in naming within the scope of the MilHist Project, their scheme explained here. Current MilHist Project for the Second World War categories are presented below.

Current system
The current system of article categorisation within the World War II task force subject area was created haphazardly until 2006, which is reflected in its taxonomy that exists as part of the general Military History Project category scheme which originates in two root categories—Category:War and Category:Military—and can be thought of as two tree structures that intersect at several points. For the purpose of the World War II category, the Category:War is the primary category, and the Category:Military is the support category. This is because the World War II is a specific reference to a war, while Military is only generally applied to further define the subjects within the scope of World War II.

As can be seen below, Military is not the only Project that impacts on the categorisation of articles.

In the current scheme two distinct approaches to categorisation are used: the general to specific ordering of keywords, and the specific to general. This is seen from the English language point of view which is read left to right.

The current taxonomy is executed to the fourth levels or strata of disambiguation within the ontological structure. it is not intended to be a tree structure.


 * Category:World War II
 * Category:Chronology of World War II
 * Category:Economics of the Second World War
 * Category:Economic history of World War II
 * Category:Economies of World War II
 * Category:International trade during World War II
 * Category:Public administration during World War II
 * Category:Scientific organisations of World War II
 * Category:Lists of World War II topics
 * Category:Militaries of the Second World War
 * Category:Awards and decorations of World War II
 * Category:Concurrent wars to World War II
 * Category:Intelligence services of World War II
 * Category:Military deception during World War II
 * Category:Office of Strategic Services
 * Category:Technical intelligence during World War II
 * Category:World War II espionage
 * Category:Military lists of World War II
 * Category:Lists of military units and formations of World War II
 * Category:Military organisations in World War II
 * Category:Strategies and doctrines of World War II
 * Category:Battles and operations of World War II
 * Category:Campaigns and theatres of World War II
 * Category:Civil wars fought during World War II
 * Category:Military actions of World War II
 * Category:Military campaigns of World War II
 * Category:Military campaigns of World War II orders of battle
 * Category:Military operations of World War II
 * Category:Second World War rebellions
 * Category:WW2 photograph
 * Category:World War II military equipment
 * Category:World War II military equipment by type
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Argentina
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Belgium
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Brazil
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Bulgaria
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Canada
 * Category:World War II military equipment of China
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Finland
 * Category:World War II military equipment of France
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Germany
 * Category:World War II guided missiles
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Italy
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Japan
 * Category:Manhattan Project
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Norway
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Poland
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Romania
 * Category:World War II military equipment of the Soviet Union
 * Category:World War II military equipment of the United Kingdom
 * Category:World War II military equipment of the United States
 * Category:World War II national military histories
 * Category:Military history of Albania during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Algeria during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Australia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Belarus during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Belgium during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Bulgaria during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Burma during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Canada during World War II
 * Category:Canada in the World Wars and Interwar Years
 * Category:Military history of China during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Czechoslovakia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Estonia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Finland during World War II
 * Category:Military history of France during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Germany during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Greece during World War II
 * Category:Military history of India during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Ingria during World War II
 * Category:Ingria
 * Category:Military history of Italy during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Japan during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Korea during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Latvia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Lithuania during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Mexico during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the Netherlands during World War II
 * Category:Military history of New Zealand during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Norway during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the Philippines during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Poland during World War II
 * Category:Romania in World War II
 * Category:Second Sino-Japanese War
 * Category:Military history of the Soviet Union during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Thailand during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the United States during World War II
 * Category:Vichy France
 * Category:Military history of Vietnam during World War II
 * Category:Yugoslavia in World War II
 * Category:World War II sites
 * Category:World War II airfields
 * Category:World War II defensive lines
 * Category:World War II memorials and cemeteries
 * Category:World War II museums
 * Category:Nazi concentration camps
 * Category:World War II prisoner of war camps
 * Category:Political science of the Second World War
 * Category:Diplomacy during World War II
 * Category:Diplomatic archives of World War II
 * Category:Political archives of World War II
 * Category:States in World War II
 * Category:World War II politics
 * Category:Sociology of the Second World War
 * Category:Aftermath of World War II
 * Category:Cultural history of World War II
 * Category:Events cancelled due to World War II
 * Category:Historiography of World War II
 * Category:Home front during World War II
 * Category:Human factors in World War II
 * Category:People of World War II
 * Category:The Holocaust
 * Category:World War II casualties
 * Category:World War II crimes
 * Category:World War II media
 * Category:World War II non-government organizations


 * Rather then tackling the whole big structure, I would suggest taking it in smaller and more manageable "bites" starting with the top categories and working our way down the hierarchies as we progress.--mrg3105 (comms) ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 04:35, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Options 1 & 2
Option 1


 * Category:World War II
 * Category:Chronology of World War II
 * Category:Operations and campaigns of World War II ''
 * Category:Battles and operations of World War II
 * Category:Campaigns and theatres of World War II
 * Category:Civil wars fought during World War II
 * Category:Military actions of World War II
 * Category:Military campaigns of World War II
 * Category:Military campaigns of World War II orders of battle
 * Category:Military operations of World War II
 * Category:Second World War rebellions
 * Category:Economics of the Second World War
 * Category:Economic history of World War II
 * Category:Economies of World War II
 * Category:International trade during World War II
 * Category:Public administration during World War II
 * Category:Scientific organisations of World War II
 * Category:Lists of World War II topics
 * Category:Militaries of the Second World War
 * Category:Awards and decorations of World War II
 * Category:Concurrent wars to World War II
 * Category:Intelligence services of World War II
 * Category:Military deception during World War II
 * Category:Office of Strategic Services
 * Category:Technical intelligence during World War II
 * Category:World War II espionage
 * Category:Military lists of World War II
 * Category:Lists of military units and formations of World War II
 * Category:Military organisations in World War II
 * Category:WW2 photograph
 * Category:World War II military equipment
 * Category:World War II military equipment by type
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Argentina
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Belgium
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Brazil
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Bulgaria
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Canada
 * Category:World War II military equipment of China
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Finland
 * Category:World War II military equipment of France
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Germany
 * Category:World War II guided missiles
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Italy
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Japan
 * Category:Manhattan Project
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Norway
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Poland
 * Category:World War II military equipment of Romania
 * Category:World War II military equipment of the Soviet Union
 * Category:World War II military equipment of the United Kingdom
 * Category:World War II military equipment of the United States
 * Category:World War II national military histories
 * Category:Military history of Albania during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Algeria during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Australia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Belarus during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Belgium during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Bulgaria during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Burma during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Canada during World War II
 * Category:Canada in the World Wars and Interwar Years
 * Category:Military history of China during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Czechoslovakia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Estonia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Finland during World War II
 * Category:Military history of France during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Germany during World War II
 * Category:History of Greece during World War II
 * Category:Military history of India during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Ingria during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Italy during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Japan during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Korea during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Latvia during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Lithuania during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Mexico during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the Netherlands during World War II
 * Category:Military history of New Zealand during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Norway during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the Philippines during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Poland during World War II
 * Category:Romania during World War II
 * Category:Second Sino-Japanese War
 * Category:Military history of the Soviet Union during World War II
 * Category:Military history of Thailand during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II
 * Category:Military history of the United States during World War II
 * Category:Vichy regime
 * Category:Military history of Vietnam during World War II
 * Category:Yugoslavia during World War II
 * Category:World War II sites
 * Category:World War II airfields
 * Category:World War II defensive lines
 * Category:World War II memorials and cemeteries
 * Category:World War II museums
 * Category:World War II POW camps
 * Category:Political science of the Second World War
 * Category:Diplomacy during World War II
 * Category:Diplomatic archives of World War II
 * Category:Political archives of World War II
 * Category:States in World War II
 * Category:World War II politics
 * Category:Sociology of the Second World War
 * Category:Aftermath of World War II
 * Category:Cultural history of World War II
 * Category:Events cancelled due to World War II
 * Category:Historiography of World War II
 * Category:Home front during World War II
 * Category:Human factors in World War II
 * Category:People of World War II
 * Category:The Holocaust
 * Category:World War II casualties
 * Category:World War II crimes
 * Category:World War II media
 * Category:World War II non-government organizations

Option 2
 * The scheme below seeks to offer a conceptual scope map of the Project area subjects, topics and concepts for World War II. The categories would not all be created immediately, but stored in the Project category "repository" for activation as needed. To help with structuring, the following schemes can be use:


 * Individuals categories: individuals (people), organisations or objects
 * Classes categories: Lists, sets, collections, general concepts, summaries or types of objects
 * Attributes categories: properties, features, characteristics, or parameters that objects (and classes) have
 * Relations categories: ways that classes and objects can be related to one another
 * Function terms categories: ordering of articles by the functions of their subjects
 * Events categories: the changing of attributes or relations


 * Root category Category:World War II
 * Military Science discipline by WikiProject categories Category:Militaries of the Second World War
 * Category:Conflicts of the interwar era
 * Category:Concurrent wars to World War II
 * Category:Intelligence services of World War II
 * Category:Strategies and doctrines of World War II
 * Category:Military logistics of World War II
 * Category:Military organisations in World War II
 * Category:Reserve forces during World War II
 * Category:Military technology of World War II
 * Category:Military communications of World War II
 * Category:Military crimes during World War II
 * Category:Military victims of World War II
 * Category:Military histories of World War II
 * Category:Military images of World War II
 * Category:Military aftermath of World War II
 * Category:Military historiography of World War II
 * Political science discipline by WikiProject categories Category:Political science of the Second World War
 * Category:States in World War II
 * Category:Temporary states of World War II
 * Category:International relations during World War II
 * Category:Diplomacy during World War II
 * Category:Political symbols during World War II
 * Category:Politics of World War II
 * Category:Political parties of World War II
 * Category:Political histories of World War II
 * Category:Reporting the World War II political control
 * Category:Political images of World War II
 * Category:Political aftermath of World War II
 * [[:Category:Political historiography of World War II]
 * Economics discipline by WikiProject categories Category:Economics of the Second World War
 * Category:Public administration during World War II
 * Category:Economies of World War II
 * Category:International trade during World War II
 * Category:Occupied territories of World War II
 * Category:Economic symbols of World War II
 * Category:Scientific organisations of World War II
 * Category:Economic organisations of World War II
 * Category:Economic crimes of World War II
 * Category:Home front economics during World War II
 * Category:Economic history of World War II
 * Category:Reporting the World War II economics
 * Category:Economic images of World War II
 * Category:Economic victims of World War II
 * Category:Economic aftermath of World War II
 * Category:Economic historiography of World War II
 * Social Science discipline by WikiProject categories Category:Social Science of the Second World War
 * Category:Events cancelled due to World War II
 * Category:Non-government organizations of World War II
 * Category:Human factors in World War II
 * Category:Disinformation during World War II
 * Category:Symbols of World War II
 * Category:Crimes committed during World War II
 * Category:Home front during World War II
 * Category:Cultural history of World War II
 * Category:Reporting media during World War II
 * Category:Civilian images of World War II
 * Category:Social aftermath of World War II
 * Category:Social historiography of World War II
 * Chronology discipline by WikiProject categories Category:Chronology of World War II
 * Category:Timelines of World War II
 * Category:Periodisation of World War II
 * Category:Phases of World War II
 * Category:Time and the militaries of World War II
 * Category:Time and the politics of World War II
 * Category:Time and the economics of World War II
 * Category:Time and societies of World War II

Notes

Final scheme
This is for the recording of accepted categories as discussion progresses and consensus is reached.