International Conference

The Informational Dimension of Hybrid Warfare: Eastern and Western Perspectives on the Conflicts in the 21st Century

11-12 January 2017 – King’s College London

War Studies Meeting Room (K6.07)

This conference, organised by the King’s Centre for Strategic Communications (KCSC, London) in association with the International Centre for Counter Terrorism (ICCT, The Hague), the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO, Moscow) and the Gerda Henkel Foundation (Düsseldorf), brings together for the first time scholars from Russia and the West to discuss the role and nature of hybridity, information warfare and strategic communications in contemporary world politics.

This unique academic collaboration takes place at a pressing moment in international relations, as a confluence of conflict-related insecurities has given rise to a sense of deep crisis. Closely associated with this are concerns relating to the increasing use of propaganda, espionage, subversion or cyber attack by state and non-state actors. Such concerns have recently taken a prominent role in contemporary international public discourse.

This political climate presents challenges to the free academic exchange of views and opinions, yet also renders it of critical importance. Academic dialogue on pressing issues relating to international order, peace and security can build bridges between societies by fostering and supporting the development of a more inclusive international public discourse. Only through international scholarly exchanges that bring minds together can we achieve necessary insights.

KCSC Conference: The Informational Dimension of Hybrid Warfare

Session One, Panel 1: The Concept of Hybridity in Conflicts

Chair: Dr Neville Bolt, Director, KCSC

• Prof. David Betz, KCSC; Professor of War in the Modern World, KCL 
‘Military and Non-military means in Modern Warfare’ (0-27 min) 

• Prof. Georgy Filimonov, Head of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Predictions at RUDN University. 
‘Hybrid War: Interpretations and Reality’ (27-59 min)

Session One, Panel 1: The Concept Of Hybridity In Conflicts

Chair: Prof. Thomas Rid, KCSC; Professor in Security Studies, KCL

• Mr. Vitaliy Kabernik, Senior Expert, Centre of Military-Political Research, MGIMO ‘Russian View on Hybrid War: Military Perspective’ (0-29 min)

• Dr. Ofer Fridman, Visiting Research Fellow, KCSC ‘“Hybrid War” of Definitions: The Conceptualisation of Hybridity in Russia and the West’ (29-57 min)

Session One, Panel 2: The Concept Of Hybridity In Conflicts

Chair: Mr. Vitaliy Kabernik, Senior Expert, Centre of Military-Political Research, MGIMO

• Mr. Matt Armstrong, Public Diplomacy Expert ‘Information Warfare Politics: a US Perspective’ (0 - 24 min) 

• Dr. Radomir Bolgov, Associate Professor, Saint Petersburg State University ‘Information Warfare Politics in Russia: Policy, Effects and Implications’ (24 - 52 min)

Session Two, Panel 3: Informational Dimension and Warfare in the 21st Century

Chair: Dr Alastair Reed, Director, ICCT

• Dr. Nick Michelsen, KCSC; Lecturer, KCL ‘Practical Ethics in Information War’ (0 - 25 min)

• Dr. Oxana Timofeyeva, Lecturer, National Research University Higher School of Economics ‘Informational Exposure and Media Resources as a Part of Socio-Political Conflicts’ (26 - 1:05 min)

Session Two, Panel 4: Informational Dimension and Warfare in the 21st Century

Dr Neville Bolt, Director, KCSC 
Dr. Alastair Reed, Director, ICCT 
Mr. Vitaly Kabernik, Senior Expert, Centre of Military-Political Research, MGIMO

Welcoming Remarks

Chair: Prof. Dr. Edwin Bekker, Research Fellow, ICCT and the Director at Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University

• Mr. Charlie Winter, Associate Fellow, ICCT ‘The Battle for Mosul: Analysis of ISIS’s Propaganda’ (1 - 31 min)

• Dr. Akhmet Yarlykapov, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Caucasian Studies and Regional Security, MGIMO ‘The Effectiveness of ISIS’s Propaganda in the North Caucasus – Based on Sociological and Anthropological Research’ (31 - 57 min)

Session Three, Panel 5: Information Warfare and the War on ISIS

Chair: Dr. Peter Busch, KCSC; Senior Lecturer, KCL

• Dr. Craig Whiteside, Associate Fellow, ICCT; Associate Professor, Naval War College Monterey. ‘Lighting the Path: the Evolution of the Islamic State Media Enterprise (2003- 2016)’ (0 - 32 min)

• Dr. Vladimir Sotnikov, Senior Research Associate Institute of Eastern Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences. ‘How the Islamic State (IS) Uses Information Warfare’ (32 - 58 min)

Session Three, Panel 6: Information Warfare and the War on ISIS

Chair: Prof. Mervyn Frost, KCSC, Professor of International Relations, KCL Co-Chair: Dr. Ofer Fridman, Visiting Research Fellow, KCSC.

• Dr. Oxana Timofeyeva – ‘The Evolution of Attitudes towards the Victims of ISIS’s Recruiters in Russian Media’ (1 - 11 min)

• Dr. Akhmet Yarlykapov – ‘The Islamic Factor of Russian Foreign Policy in the Caucasus” (11 - 17 min)

• Dr. Vladimir Sotnikov – ‘Russian Foreign Policy in the Middle East in the context of the Hybrid War Waged by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’ (17 - 26 min)

Round - Table 1: World Politics And The War On ISIS – Perspective From Moscow

Chair: Prof. Mervyn Frost, KCSC, Professor of International Relations, KCL Co-Chair: Dr. Ofer Fridman, Visiting Research Fellow, KCSC

• Dr. Radomir Bolgov – ‘Russian Politics: From Foes to ... Foes’ (0-12 min)

• Prof. Georgy Filimonov – ‘The Techniques of Coup D’etat as a Foreign Policy Instrument’ (12 - 29 min)

• Mr. Vitaly Kabernik – ‘The Politicisation of Cyber Attacks in International Relations’ (29 - 42 min)

Round - Table 2: World Politics And The War On ISIS – Perspective From Moscow

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