OLD METHODS IN THE NEW FRAMEWORK”. STRATEGY OF GREY ZONES IN HYBRID WARFARE

Authors

  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Leszek SYKULSKI University of Business and Entrepreneurship in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski Department of National Security

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53477/2668-5094-21-11

Keywords:

insurgency wars, asymmetric conflicts, hybrid wars, Yevgeny Messner, grey zones.

Abstract

The concept of waging conflict in Grey Zones was adopted in the US community of international security analysts several years ago. It refers to the use of primarily non-military instruments to create spaces of deep conflict at multiple social, political, cultural, religious and economic levels. These conflicts take place below the threshold of war. One of the first concepts that we can consider as the genesis of this type of strategy is the concept of rebel wars created in the 1960s, by the Russian strategist, Colonel Yevgeny Messner. This new type of war was to be characterised by the predominance of civilian combat, the key importance of psychological impact and the decisive importance of the use of troops and special services. Messner also pointed to the growing role of terror in the conduct of military operations. Another important feature of the new concept was the “denationalisation of war”. Fighting social groups, military and paramilitary sub-units were to be deprived of recognition marks.

Author Biography

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Leszek SYKULSKI, University of Business and Entrepreneurship in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski Department of National Security

Dr. Leszek Sykulski is assistant professor in the Department of National Security at the University of Business and Entrepreneurship in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski (Poland).

Professor Sykulski has previously served as international security analyst in the Office of the President of Poland during Lech Kaczyński’s presidency.

Professor Sykulski is the founder and the CEO of the Polish Geostrategic Society.

Professor Sykulski holds a PhD in political sciences.

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Published

2021-07-15