Hybrid, ambiguous, and non-linear? How new is Russia's 'new way of war'?. (3rd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galeotti, Mark
• Is Part Of: Small wars & insurgencies. Volume 27:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 282
• Page End: 301
• Publication Date: 2016-03-03
• Subjects: Russia -- Ukraine -- Crimea, hybrid warfare -- asymmetric warfare -- Spetsnaz; Low-intensity conflicts (Military science) -- Periodicals; Insurgency -- Periodicals; 355.021805
• DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2015.1129170
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-2318

Abstract

Abstract: Russia's recent operations in Ukraine, especially the integrated use of militias, gangsters, information operations, intelligence, and special forces, have created a concern in the West about a 'new way of war', sometimes described as 'hybrid'. However, not only are many of the tactics used familiar from Western operations, they also have their roots in Soviet and pre-Soviet Russian practice. They are distinctive in terms of the degree to which they are willing to give primacy to 'non-kinetic' means, the scale of integration of non-state actors, and tight linkage between political and military command structures. However, this is all largely a question of degree rather than true qualitative novelty. Instead, what is new is the contemporary political, military, technological, and social context in which new wars are being fought.