Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile Influence
This study analyzes the domestic political, economic, and social conditions in the Western Balkans that provide fertile ground for hostile and maligned actors to manipulate and exploit governments and societies with hybrid war measures, namely cyberattacks and cyber intrusions and disinformation and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2022-06-01
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| Series: | SEEU Review |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/seeur-2022-0018 |
| _version_ | 1818017882061144064 |
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| author | Dolan Chris J. |
| author_facet | Dolan Chris J. |
| author_sort | Dolan Chris J. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyzes the domestic political, economic, and social conditions in the Western Balkans that provide fertile ground for hostile and maligned actors to manipulate and exploit governments and societies with hybrid war measures, namely cyberattacks and cyber intrusions and disinformation and fake news. It begins with a review and assessment of the prevailing empirical and theoretical literature on hybrid warfare. It then describes two leading empirical indices that measure degrees of permeability and structural vulnerability that elevate or reduce the risks associated with maligned and hostile interventions. The article also examines leading indicators measuring resilience levels in cybersecurity and media/information literacy, highlighting political, social, and economic vulnerabilities. It concludes by suggesting that domestic conditions in the region encourage maligned and hostile actors, especially Russia and for different reasons and to a lesser extent China and Turkey, to use hybrid measures to exploit the region. The article proposes that in addition to strengthening institutions and trust, membership in NATO and the E.U. are directly related to mitigating structural vulnerability and reducing uncertainty and insecurity in the Western Balkans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:32:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5fc95ab26774b50902a103ba800cd3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1857-8462 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:32:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SEEU Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5fc95ab26774b50902a103ba800cd3c2022-12-22T02:05:49ZengSciendoSEEU Review1857-84622022-06-0117132510.2478/seeur-2022-0018Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile InfluenceDolan Chris J.0Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Max van der Stoel Institute, Southeast European University Professor of Intelligence and Security Studies, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pennsylvania, USA17003, dolan@lvc.eduThis study analyzes the domestic political, economic, and social conditions in the Western Balkans that provide fertile ground for hostile and maligned actors to manipulate and exploit governments and societies with hybrid war measures, namely cyberattacks and cyber intrusions and disinformation and fake news. It begins with a review and assessment of the prevailing empirical and theoretical literature on hybrid warfare. It then describes two leading empirical indices that measure degrees of permeability and structural vulnerability that elevate or reduce the risks associated with maligned and hostile interventions. The article also examines leading indicators measuring resilience levels in cybersecurity and media/information literacy, highlighting political, social, and economic vulnerabilities. It concludes by suggesting that domestic conditions in the region encourage maligned and hostile actors, especially Russia and for different reasons and to a lesser extent China and Turkey, to use hybrid measures to exploit the region. The article proposes that in addition to strengthening institutions and trust, membership in NATO and the E.U. are directly related to mitigating structural vulnerability and reducing uncertainty and insecurity in the Western Balkans.https://doi.org/10.2478/seeur-2022-0018hybrid warfarepermeabilityvulnerabilitycybersecuritydisinformationhostile influencemaligned actors |
| spellingShingle | Dolan Chris J. Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile Influence SEEU Review hybrid warfare permeability vulnerability cybersecurity disinformation hostile influence maligned actors |
| title | Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile Influence |
| title_full | Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile Influence |
| title_fullStr | Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile Influence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile Influence |
| title_short | Hybrid Warfare in the Western Balkans: How Structural Vulnerability Attracts Maligned Powers and Hostile Influence |
| title_sort | hybrid warfare in the western balkans how structural vulnerability attracts maligned powers and hostile influence |
| topic | hybrid warfare permeability vulnerability cybersecurity disinformation hostile influence maligned actors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/seeur-2022-0018 |
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