The course will focus on so-called hybrid threats against a background of a rapidly evolving strategic environment. The first two sessions will be dedicated to providing an overview of this transformation from Cold War to current strategic competition with the aim of contextualizing the challenges and threats posed by hybrid threats to liberal democracies. The strategic thinking of Russia and China as the actors behind most of these hybrid activities will be assessed. The next sessions will be devoted to understanding the evolution of warfare and competition and the emergence of hybrid threats as elements of strategic disruption. The complex and multifaceted conceptual debate on hybrid threats at the EU, NATO and the academia will be explored. In essence, hybrid methods of warfare and competition are not new, what has changed is the technological framework, the information environment, and the digitalization of societies and with that the speed, scale, and intensity of hybrid attacks. One session will be devoted to the issue of cyber information operations and disinformation to understand why is one of the most insidious threats that democracies face and why is particularly difficult to tackle. The following five sessions will be devoted to analyze some real case studies and two simulation games. In addition to the readings indicated in the syllabus, students will be provided with the necessary materials to carry out these exercises.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the concept of hybrid threats within the ongoing global power shift and renewed strategic competition.
2. Understand the threats posed by cyber information operations and disinformation, how these campaigns are organized and executed and why are one of the most insidious threats democracies are facing.
3. Understand the strategic implications of the digitalization of societies and how resiliency is being built with a focus on EU.
4. Evaluate critically the response to hybrid threats given by the EU and NATO
Professional Skills
1. Strategic analysis
2. Forensic analysis of information operations
3. Critical thinking
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 1 hours a week / 40 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 1 hours a week / 40 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 2 hours a week / 40 hours a semester
Case-studies and simulations in class (40% of the final mark)
Class assistance and participation (20% of the final mark)