Russian political warfare: origin, evolution, and application
Author
Dickey, Jeffrey V.
Everett, Thomas B.
Galvach, Zane M.
J.Mesko, Matthew
V.Soltis, Anton
Date
2015-06Advisor
Rothstein, Hy
Second Reader
Blank, Stephen
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and subsequent activities in Eastern Ukraine are not isolated incidents, but rather a new form of hybrid war, or asymmetric warfare. They are part of a decades-long and continent-spanning Russian political warfare (PW) campaign. Analysis of the origin, history, and evolution of Soviet/Russian PW from 1917 through today reveals that Russia is using PW to assert regional dominance and challenge the unipolarity of the United States and the West. A review of events in Ukraine demonstrates Russia is using its latest evolution of PW doctrine, the Gerasimov Model, to achieve strategic objectives while remaining below the military response threshold of the international community. This paper combines an empirical and case study review of PW, with lessons from the Cold War, to propose a conceptual framework and a supporting model for foreign policy makers, planners, and practitioners to better understand PW. Furthermore, it recommends the United States adopt a proactive PW strategy to support national policy objectives and counter the PW activities of Russia and other rising powers. United States Special Operations Forces are well-suited for PW and will play a pivotal role in a U.S. PW strategy that encompasses all elements of national power and synchronizes the interagency community.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN 2016 AND 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Nelson, Gregory J. (Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2022-03);The Russian interference campaign against the U.S. presidential elections in 2016 and 2020 was an unprecedented effort to strike at the core of American democracy, and it is widely expected that election interference will ... -
Russia and China: the impact of reform and the prospect of democracy
Amerling, Leah (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2002-03);This study provides a comparative analysis of Russia and China's transformation by focusing on two aspects: the impact of reform efforts on economic performance and the prospect for democracy. China's domestic modernization ... -
Germany’s Ostpolitik in crisis: President Putin and Chancellor Merkel amid the Ukraine crisis
Braun, Thomas L. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2015-06);The Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 set off the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the 1980s. In the wake of this event, a reunified Germany has emerged as the key leader to engage Russia on behalf of the ...