War in the Grey Zone: Historical Reflections and Contemporary Implications

TY - JOUR

T1 - War in the Grey Zone: Historical Reflections and Contemporary Implications

AU - Hughes, Geraint

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - This article analyses the concept of ‘grey zone’ warfare, which is influencing the US and British defence communities’ current thinking on the nature of contemporary warfare and the threats their countries and allies face. It argues that the ‘grey zone’ is not a new development, and that it has numerous historical precedents. The study of these historical examples demonstrates that the methods of indirect and undeclared warfare do not offer certain strategic success, and that scholars as well as military and policy-making practitioners can utilise these case studies to identify means by which grey zone aggression can be countered.

AB - This article analyses the concept of ‘grey zone’ warfare, which is influencing the US and British defence communities’ current thinking on the nature of contemporary warfare and the threats their countries and allies face. It argues that the ‘grey zone’ is not a new development, and that it has numerous historical precedents. The study of these historical examples demonstrates that the methods of indirect and undeclared warfare do not offer certain strategic success, and that scholars as well as military and policy-making practitioners can utilise these case studies to identify means by which grey zone aggression can be countered.

KW - Grey zone warfare. Hybrid war. Contemporary warfare. NATO. Russia.

U2 - 10.1080/00396338.2020.1763618

DO - 10.1080/00396338.2020.1763618

M3 - Article

SN - 0039-6338

VL - 62

SP - 131

EP - 158

JO - Survival

JF - Survival

IS - 3

ER -