Hybrid warfare: The continuation of ambiguity by other means

Mumford, Andrew; Carlucci, Pascal

Abstract

This article presents the study of ambiguity as the essence of hybrid warfare to reconcile it with the international political context. It addresses the gaps in the literature in an effort to elucidate the essence of hybrid warfare not as a separate concept, but rather as the symptom of a changing political environment. The analysis of the literature is reinforced by two case studies: The war in eastern Ukraine of 2014 and the South China Sea dispute. Both these case studies express ambiguity in the combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means used to achieve political objectives. The article rests on three pillars that constitute the architecture of the central argument. The first pillar will address the gap in the current literature on hybrid warfare and how the current debate is too concerned with conflict dynamics rather than its political nature. The second pillar will delineate the essence, characteristics, and value of ambiguity in hybrid warfare. The third pillar will address the practice of hybrid warfare as the conduct of war by great powers.

Citation

Mumford, A., & Carlucci, P. (2023). Hybrid warfare: The continuation of ambiguity by other means. European Journal of International Security, 8(2), 192-206. https://doi.org/10.1017/eis.2022.19

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 25, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 17, 2022
• Publication Date: May 8, 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 27, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 17, 2022
• Journal: European Journal of International Security
• Print ISSN: 2057-5637
• Electronic ISSN: 2057-5645
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 192-206
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/eis.2022.19
• Keywords: Hybrid warfare; ambiguity; Ukraine; South China Sea; strategy
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7835558
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-journal-of-international-security/article/hybrid-warfare-the-continuation-of-ambiguity-by-other-means/1B3336D8109D418F89D732EB98B774E5