Dechen Tshering (14221146)

ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF BHUTAN
(NORBULING RIGTER COLLEGE)
DOTENG, PARO, BHUTAN
Title of the Assignment : Evaluating the pertinence of War Theory in the

Context of Non-Traditional Conflicts: A Focus
On Cyber Warfare, Hybrid Warfare, and Terrorism
Module code and Name : PWH201 World Political History
Module Tutor : Mr. Kuenzang Dorji
Date of Submission : 21st May, 2024
Submitted by (Name and Std.No) : Dechen Tshering (14221146)

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Total Marks: 25
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Evaluating the Pertinence of War Theory in the Context of Non-Traditional Conflicts: A
Focus on Cyber Warfare, Hybrid Warfare, and Terrorism
Introduction
In the history of mankind, man had always engage in conflict and war against each other. From
the day when man was first born, he had to fight with nature to survive and then with his own kind
to thrive in the society. From using of spears and arrows to sophisticated technologies to attack
each other for domination. For example, using of atomic bomb in WW II by Americans to destroy
Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 mark the significant shift from small scale destruction to mass
destruction. The two world war proves the undeniable harsh truth of man’s animal nature. In
modern times, the nature of conflict has evolved beyond conventional warfare, with rise of non-
traditional threats such as cyber warfare and terrorism that pose danger to the people lives and
property. These forms of conflict require creative techniques for critical understanding and
responding to prevent major threats and consequences. This study will examine non-traditional
form of conflict in present times, evaluate war theory’s relevance in understanding and responding
to emerging challenges.
Non-Traditional Forms of Conflict

As the society changes, does the forms of conflict from traditional to non-traditional. Before
there was fighting among man using weapons such as axe, arrows, and swords to transition from
modern weapons such as tanks, explosions, and machine guns. Some of the non-traditional forms
of conflict include cyber warfare, terrorism, and hybrid warfare. Cyber warfare include the use of
digital technology to disturb the target network and communication in aim for gaining a strategic
or military advantage. The cyber-attack is usually executed through internet by individuals or a
groups leading to dysfunction of whole network. According to Hruza & Cerny (2017), Nation-states
use cyber-attacks to enter other states’ networks and security in order to cause damage. Tactics
such as hacking into target systems to steal sensitive information’s, disturb network to cause
dysfunction, and manipulate data of targeted systems. For example, According to Duguin &
Pavlova (2023), there was cyber-attack on Ukraine by Russia on 2022 disturbing the whole
network, affecting infrastructure and civilians. This form of conflict can result in spreading of false
information throughout nation’s leading to confusions and weakening the state inner defense
mechanisms. Due to much focus on digital technology, most of the developed state use cyber
warfare as an invisible force to dig valuable information from another state making them
vulnerable to both within and outside attack.
According to Kaldor (1999), Non-Traditional forms of conflict are characterized by involvement
of non-state actors, which primarily target civilians and employ techniques such as terrorism and
organized crime. Terrorism is one of the many non-traditional forms of conflict where a group of
people use violence, tactics and methods such as kidnapping and bombing to achieve political,
religious, or ideological goals. For example, on 9/11 terrorist attack the world trade center in New
York City to hijacked planes and causing them to crash into the twin building. Terrorism poses
threats on both national and international level and can cause mass destruction resulting in loss
of many lives and negative impact on economy. According to Murphy (2002), due to September
11 attack there was negative impact on globalization and led to downturn in economics. Hybrid
warfare is also one of the forms of non-traditional conflict that integrate conventional military
tactics and irregular warfare such as terrorism, cyber-attack, and insurgent. It can include both
state and non-state actors that aims to achieve political goals. As per Terrados (2019), to gain
political influence and supremacy over a country, an aggressor may utilizes measures such as
major disinformation campaign to control population, communication disruption, and military
force. This forms of non-traditional forms of conflict usually involve unconventional actors and
target civilians to achieve their goals.
Relevance of War Theory

The first ethical approach to war was Just war theory developed by Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Just war theory suggest that a war can be justify if the cause of war is just or if the war was wage
by legitimate authority. War theory aims to justify war by understanding its moral, ethical, and
legal intentions. Moreover it seek to promote peace, justice and stability in the world. In
contemporary world, war theory is still relevant and can be apply on non-traditional forms of
conflict by examining its ethical means. Jus ad bellum one of the two parts of just theory suggest
that a war can be justified if it is for just cause and wage by legitimate authority. While, Jus in
Bello suggested that war to be justified if the practice is just. If a state defend itself from cyber war
attack by responding through cyber-attack led by legitimate authority to aggressor state it can be
considered just war. This was also supports by Dipert (2010) stating that a cyber-attack is morally
justified in response to an enemy cyber-attack. For example, in 2022 Ukraine responded to Russia
by attacking on their network and system to defend itself from Russia cyber-attack. This show
that through ethical consideration and finding the intention behind the cyber-attack, a cyber-
warfare can be considered just war.
Moreover, just war theory can also be applied on terrorism by taking into moral and ethical
consideration and the reason behind its action. By terrorism, it means counterterrorism
government implemented strategies and measures to prevent and address terrorism. The
department works with international government to combat terrorist threats through combination
of diplomatic engagement and foreign assistance. Counter-terrorism create conflict in order to
maintain peace, justice and stability in the world which the just theory aims to achieve. War theory
such as relative pacifist can also be taken into consideration to justify counter-terrorism. Relative
pacifist suggest that peaceful solution to be first option but if war is the last resort then they do
not object it. Counter-terrorism is deploy as last resort to combat terrorism due to failure of terrorist
groups to reach peaceful resolution.
Addressing Emerging Challenges
Due to rise of non-traditional forms of conflict, there is emergence of new challenges that pose
threats to the world. However, these challenges can be address by applying war theory and
utilizing war theory framework to develop strategies to address emerging challenges. According
to Walzer (2006) he argued that war is unavoidable and it should be undertaken within a moral
framework. By evaluating the reason for engaging in conflict, by assuring that reason is based on
just cause, legitimate authority and war as last resort. Moreover, by complying with ethical conduct
during war and ensuring that civilian are not harm during the conflict. For instance, policy-makers
can adopt war theory to develop policies that adhere the principles of human rights and establish
norms to govern the conduct of conflict in cyber warfare and counterterrorism operations. In
context of cyber warfare, it means not including the common citizens and targeting conventional
actor. Additionally, in counter-terrorism, distinguishing between civilian and aggressor, avoid
using of mass weapons, and minimizing causalities in least possible way.
Furthermore, through international cooperation and diplomacy among nations states can help
in addressing non-traditional forms of conflict including cyber warfare, terrorism, and hybrid
warfare. As cooperation among nation help in responding shared threats and international
organization such as NATO act as a means for state members to foster cooperation and
discussion to promote peace and stability. Additionally, developing new strategies and formulating
measure for cyber-attack and terrorism can highly help in preventing and minimizing damage to
civilians. Thus, it is essential for policy-maker to design policy that adhere the principle of just
theory and maintain cooperation to ensure peace and justice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, non-traditional forms of conflict such as cyber warfare, terrorism and hybrid
warfare poses threat to world as they target both conventional and non-conventional actor putting
their lives in danger. Moreover, these non-traditional conflict can be justify by applying war theory,
by taking into moral and ethical consideration, motivation of their attack, and if led by legitimate
authority. These emerging challenges can also be address by adhering the principle of just theory
in designing policies and cooperation among nation states to prevent conflicts.
References
Hruza, P. & Cerny, J. (2017). Cyber warfare. ResearchGate. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318737253_Cyberwarfare
Dugin,s. & Pavlova, P. (2023). The role of cyber in the Russian war against Ukraine: It’s Impact
and the consequences for the future of armed conflict. European Parliament. Retrieved from
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2023/702594/EXPO_BRI(2023)702594_
EN.pdf
Kaldor, M. (1999). New and Old Wars. 20(3), 71-73. Retrieved from
https://dl1.cuni.cz/pluginfile.php/654678/mod_resource/content/1/kaldor%20-
%20old%and%new%20wars.pdf
Murphy,J.F. (2002). Impact of terrorism on globalization and vice-versa. The International Lawyer.
Retrieved from https://scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2112&context=til
Dipert, R. (2010). The ethic of cyberwarfare. Journal of Military Ethics. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263305272_The_Ethics_of_Cyberwarfare
Walzer, M. (2006). Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations. Retrieved
From https://dl1.cuni.cz/pluginfile.php/471728/mod_resource/content/1/walzer.pdf

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ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF BHUTAN

(NORBULING RIGTER COLLEGE)

DOTENG, PARO, BHUTAN

Title of the Assignment : Evaluating the pertinence of War Theory in the

Module code and Name : PWH201 World Political History

Module Tutor : Mr. Kuenzang Dorji

Date of Submission : 21st May, 2024

Submitted by (Name and Std.No) : Dechen Tshering (14221146)

For Module Tutor

(As reflected in assignment question) Marks Assigned Marks

Feedbacks/Comments by Module Tutor:

Non-Traditional Forms of Conflict

Relevance of War Theory

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