Defence and strategy

Tomáš LALKOVIČ

The article analyses the influence of geography on the strategy of insurgent groups in Sri Lanka and the Philippines. It uses the conceptualization of geography created by David Galula to examine the influence of 8 distinct categories of geography on the strategy of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The analysis shows that while the geography of Sri Lanka was a driving force that enabled many of the LTTE successes, it had a divisive effect in the Philippines and heavily contributed to the military failures of the Moro independence movement.

Ten Years of Cross-Border Security Issues and Bilateral Relations

Tomáš ZWIEFELHOFER

The case study is focused on the last ten years of Kenyan military involvement in Somalia. It is based on literature review and expert interviews with field researchers and military members, which were conducted by the author. Through the analysis of motives for intervention, achievements, and mishaps, it examines lessons learned from the intervention. The decade long Kenya’s intervention has evolved into one of the pillars of fostering the stability in the Horn of Africa. Located in this region, which is unstable, Kenya finds itself being responsible for future stabilizing efforts, as it is the only stable state left in the Horn of Africa at present days.

Future Challenges Concerning Their Regulation on International Level

Lujza CHRVALOVÁ

Since 2013, the debates on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) and approach to them from the point of view of international legislation have been taking place within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and later, since 2017, on the platform Group of Governmental Experts under CCW. Following the ongoing debates and the importance of the topic, in her article, the author aims to summarise the results achieved in the discussions under the CCW, especially the main steps, successfully handled challenges and shifts in the countries’ positions since 2013, as well as open issues in regulating LAWS under this international convention. Part of the article is dedicated to the identification of existing similar features of countries sharing a common position on LAWS at CCW conferences, as well as the challenges and possible implications of China’s status, which supports a ban on the deployment of LAWS, but not on their research and production.

Theoretical Framework and Evidence from the Russo-Ukrainian War

Miha ŠLEBIR

In recent decades, the systems approach has become the dominant school of thought to the theoretical understanding of warfare. Within systems theory, the insights of complex (adaptive) systems theory have proved particularly important, enabling us to deepen our understanding of warfare by drawing on knowledge that has been applied in many other disciplines. This paper seeks to improve the understanding of warfare and upgrade it with the concepts of attractor and critical transition. The main idea is that a degradation of a crucial subsystem leads to a phase transition (a significant decrease of combat power) and thus to a shift from one to another strange attractor, i.e., to an alternative relatively stable state. The theoretical framework has been supported by a case study of the first phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Empirical Test of the Multi-Dimensional Concept of “Hybrid”

Vladimír BÍZIK, Dominika KOSÁROVÁ, Adam POTOČŇÁK, Richard STOJAR

The aim of this article is to empirically test the applicability of the four dimensions of resilience against hybrid threats on the concept of hybrid interference. The article shall present case studies of hybrid operations from Israel, USA, France, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Iraq/Syria that have exploited one or more of these dimensions with a principal goal of demonstrating the general utility but also empirical shortcomings of using the four-dimensional understanding of hybrid interference. The article shall finally present the main characteristics of the hybrid interference concept, based on theoretically and empirically salient criteria.

Eva ŠTĚPÁNKOVÁ, Jiří RICHTER

The main focus of this paper consists in the methods applicable to the implementation of strategic analysis with processing strategic documents of the Czech Defence Department. The article covers the interviews with processors of those documents. Based on the interviews, an original theory of strategic and conceptual documents creation was elaborated using the methodology of grounded theory. This new theory contains all the identified problems and shortcomings, their possible causes and possible solutions or improvements. The theory can serve as a starting point for the analysis of strategic planning in other organizations.

Veronika D‘EVEREUX

The paper deals with some issues of the law of armed conflict in relation to the armed invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The paper is divided into two parts. The first part of this paper deals with the issues of illegal use of force by the Russian Federation, the role of the Security Council and the Ukrainian exercise of the right to self-defense. The second part deals with the use of prohibited means and methods of fighting in relation to attacks on the civilian population. The paper seeks to determine what specific (customary or contractual) rules of international law have been violated by the Russian Federation.

Matej KANDRÍK, Josef PROCHÁZKA, Alexandra PAPRČKOVÁ

The article deals with the issue of civil preparedness for the state defence. Authors consider the civil preparedness as an integral part of the comprehensive approach to ensuring the defence of the state and the formulation of a defence strategy. The current dynamics and predictions of the development of the security environment in recent years require an approach change. The article has the ambition to contribute to the professional discussion to strengthen preparedness and increase readiness of citizens to take over their legally defined role in ensuring the defence of the state in a case of need.