Strategic Impact

PERSPECTIVE ON THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE NAVAL FORCES

Alexandru-Lucian CUCINSCHI — 2025-01-10

Although over time each service has developed specific doctrines aimed at achieving decisive victory against the adversary, using only their own capabilities, this approach now seems no longer viable in the context of new technologies and the dependency of military forces on elements that are not entirely under their control, such as the cyber domain. Nonetheless, the military have demonstrated that they possess some advantages in terms of the strategic impact they have, not only within a conflict but also as a state policy. This is also the case for Naval Forces, which have proven over time to be an important means of advancing the interestsof nations that have developed a strong maritime consciousness. In the article, one can find illustrated the strategic role of each service, subsequently being detailed the strategic missions of Naval Forces and how the Romanian Naval Forces can address this challenge.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Florian CIRCIUMARU — 2025-01-10

POLITICIZING ISLAM IN CENTRAL ASIA From the Russian Revolution to the Afghan and Syrian Jihads

Crăișor-Constantin IONIȚĂ — 2025-01-10

We continue our security culture tradition by sharing with our readers a
few ideas from a new editorial release that, as it is our strong belief, will hold your interest. The book, signed by Mrs. Kathleen Collins, a well-known associated professor and expert in the Islamic culture, is titled Politicizing Islam in Central Asia: From the Russian Revolution to the Afghan and Syrian Jihads.

ROMANIA’S HOLY WAR: A THOUGHTFUL STUDY by Grant T. Harward

Mihai ZODIAN — 2025-01-10

World War II is a difficult subject in the Romania’s past, which needs to be approached with clarity and intellectual honesty. The state and society engaged in one of the biggest massacres of their history, the Holocaust against the Jewish and Roma populations. Romania started the war as a defeated and humiliated country and ended it in a similar condition after horrific losses, under foreign occupation. Grant T. Harward’s study, Romania’s Holy War, Soldiers, Motivation and the Holocaust, is an important contribution to the effort of understanding and grasping with the event of that period.

THE TERRORIST PHENOMENON, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET. SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Iancu-Marius BUFNEA — 2025-01-10

The paper examines how terrorism uses social media and the internet, exploring the social and psychological implications of these modern media. Starting with an assessment of migration from print to online media, the paper highlights the particular impact of social networks, such as Facebook and X (e.g. Twitter), in the dissemination of terrorist information and propaganda. The study highlights cases such as that of ISIS, which used the online space to recruit thousands of individuals from around the world. The paper also explores the concept of “filter bubbles” through which social media algorithms facilitate the meeting and interaction between people with similar radical views, thus contributing to the polarization and radicalization of users. The paper argues that while the internet facilitates academic collaboration and rapid communication, it is also a source of threat, facilitating access to information that supports terrorist acts.

TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE EUROPEAN BANKING INDUSTRY SINCE 2001

Tamas SOMOGYI — 2025-01-10

There is a growing body of literature that recognises the importance of counter-terrorism and security, especially after the events of 9/11. Studies of terrorism and critical infrastructure protection agree on the essential nature of financial services and mention many cases when banks were attacked. However, the threat of terrorism to the banking industry received scant attention. This is the first study set out to investigate the terrorist attacks against banks in Europe since 2001. Research data were collected from the Global Terrorism Database.
The aim of this quantitative research is to i) examine the terrorist attacks against European banks over the last two decades, ii) identify trends and patterns, and iii) provide some recommendations to increase the level of resilience.
Our findings and recommendations can bring important contributions to the field of counter-terrorism and security. The study may hold relevance for researchers, operators of essential services, law enforcement agencies and policy-makers.

CLIMATE CHANGES AND THE MILITARY. HOW RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL MAJOR ISSUES COULD AFFECT THE NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY

Crăișor-Constantin IONIȚĂ — 2025-01-10

The last decades of this century have been characterised by overwhelming effects of climate changes all around the world and in all areas of human activity, including national defence. Environmental extreme phenomena and global warming have strongly influenced and continue to affect the conduct of military actions, as well as the efficiency of some defence capabilities, somewhat turning them into
vulnerabilities that could be subject to additional security threats and risks.
Therefore, this paper will focus on the main effects that climate changes could have upon the conduct of military activities, highlighting the most significant countermeasures at the allied and national levels. The research method is based on existing data analysis and evaluation of the recent climate phenomena and global warming, briefly touching on major events within the modern operating environment.
The paper has some limitations due to little importance given to this new security risk/threat by many decision makers, military leaders and strategic planners, as well as the unclear strategies and implementing plans to counter it. Nevertheless, it represents a new decisive factor on the modern battlefield, which could either reinforce existing risks, or become a totally new one.