The first-ever conference focused on “Interdisciplinary Education and Training on Hybrid Warfare” took place on July 2, 2023, at Bar-Ilan University’s Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA) in Israel, generously supported by the European Union and BIU’s International School.
The conference, which was funded by the EU to the sum of €380,000, marked the initiation of an innovative international research initiative that aimed to address the complex challenges posed by the era of hybrid warfare comprehensively.
Key objectives of the initiative included establishing knowledge bases, developing textbooks, and formulating effective training methodologies and academic research.
Organized by the BESA Center, the conference forged strategic partnerships with prestigious universities and key military academies across Europe. BESA’s Director, Prof. Eitan Shamir’s opening remarks emphasized the importance of learning from the Ukraine-Russian battlegrounds to navigate Israel’s geopolitical landscape successfully.
BIU’s Deputy President, Prof. Moshe Lowenstein and Daniel Schuval from BIU’s International School delivered significant speeches acknowledging international contributions and highlighting the institution’s advanced research endeavors.
Dr. Shay Attias, a senior researcher at the BESA Center and lecturer in the Department of Political Science, made significant contributions as a driving force behind the conference’s organization and the successful acquisition of the EU grant. His research centered around a crucial aspect of the hybrid project, termed the “digital home front,” wherein he shed light on the pivotal role played by the digital frontline in hybrid attacks. This research underscored the impact of such attacks on citizens’ well-being and daily lives, despite frequently remaining unnoticed by the public.
The primary objective of this collaborative research on Hybrid Warfare is to develop robust strategies and methodologies to train government officials, diplomats, military personnel, security forces, and students in effectively understanding and handling the complexities of hybrid-era threats. The project aims to curate knowledge, design pedagogical resources, and provide comprehensive training to adeptly navigate hybrid warfare challenges.
The two-day conference at Bar-Ilan University featured intensive learning, training sessions, and simulations based on the study of 30 research chapters and preliminary activities conducted in partnership with other countries.
During the conference, several lectures delved into crucial topics such as “Ideologies and Motivations of Hybrid Warfare,” “The Role of Proxies,” and “Russia’s Practices.” These insightful discussions explored geopolitical shifts, recent conflicts, and the impact of digital advancements and artificial intelligence on the global conflict landscape.
A committed team of researchers from the BESA Center, led by key scholars like Dr. Eado Hecht, Dr. Eyal Pinko, Dr. Dany Shoham, and Dr. Shay Attias, devoted their efforts to developing six research and learning chapters covering diverse fields within hybrid warfare. Topics included “Naval Warfare,” “Introduction to Hybrid Combat Strategy,” “Biological Warfare, Diplomacy, and Communication,” and other critical areas.
The next phase of this comprehensive initiative involves the publication of three textbooks on various aspects of hybrid warfare and related challenges under the auspices of the European Union. This transformative effort represents a significant advancement in the scholarly examination of conflicts and wars amidst contemporary global shifts and technological advancements.
