Този доклад е отличен като Best Paper. Отвори публикуваната версия от сборника Best Paper.
FRI-2B.312-1-NS-02
HYBRID WARFARE AS A FORM OF CONTEMPORARY ARMED CONFLICTS
Abstract
The phenomenon of hybrid warfare has emerged as a distinctive form of modern armed conflict, combining conventional military operations with a wide range of non-military instruments such as cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, economic pressure, and political destabilization. Building on the theoretical foundations proposed by scholars such as Frank Hoffman, Thomas Hammes, and Valery Gerasimov, hybrid warfare is understood as an integrated strategy that blurs the boundaries between war and peace, as well as between military and civilian domains. The study highlights the multidimensional nature of hybrid warfare, emphasizing the decisive role of information operations, the disruptive potential of cyber activities, and the strategic impact of economic and political measures. Empirical examples such as the conflict in Ukraine after 2014 and the activities of non-state actors in the Middle East illustrate the hybrid model in practice. The analysis concludes that hybrid warfare represents not only an evolution of traditional conflict but also a systemic challenge to global security in the twenty- first century. Effective responses require interdisciplinary approaches that integrate military, diplomatic, technological, and societal instruments in order to enhance resilience and protect state sovereignty..
Keywords
hybrid warfar, armed conflict
REFERENCES
- Berti, B. (2016). Hezbollah and Hybrid Warfare: Lessons from Lebanon. Washington, DC: Carnegie Middle East Center.
- Coffman, M. & Clowen, A. (2016). “Economic Instruments in Hybrid Conflicts.” Journal of Strategic Studies, 39(4), pp. 455-472.
- Gerasimov, V. (2013). “The Value of Science in Prediction.” Military-Industrial Courier, 27 February.
- Velchev, A. (2025). Media Battlefields: Hybrid Threats and Communication Strategies in Contemporary Warfare. Public Trust, Sofia, pp. 21-24.