Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Mohammad Hadi Raji ¹
• Asghar Eftekhari ²

¹ .....Faculty Member of the Institute for Strategic Studies, Tehran, Iran

² Professor, Political Sociology, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
The concept of hybrid warfare is a framework for studying the various components of Western pressure and conflict against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this respect, examining strategies to confront hybrid warfare can provide both theoretical and practical insights for relevant elites and officials. This research aimed to answer the question: What are the strategies to counter the Western hybrid warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran? The significance of this study lies in two main aspects: first, its approach and theoretical framework, which emphasizes the integration of countermeasures, and second, its operational relevance, which offers practical guidance for officials.
Literature Review
In Hybrid Wars, McCulloh and Johnson (2013) provided a comprehensive description of the literature and dimensions of hybrid warfare, addressing the deficiencies in the definition and application of hybrid conflict theory. In the Persian-language book titled Cognitive Warfare: The Fifth Dimension of War, Mohammadi-Najm (2015) explored evolutionary theories related to the future of warfare, with a particular focus on the human mind. In The Tragedy of Fourth-Generation Warfare, Ghorbani-Zavareh (2017) examined the nature of hybrid warfare within the context of fourth-generation warfare. The article “Examining and Understanding Hybrid Threats From the Perspective of Modern Warfare” (Koochaki-Badelani, 2010) discussed hybrid threats as the primary strategy employed by the West in conflicts and political-security struggles in the Middle East. In “Complex Irregular Warfare: The Next Revolution in Military Affairs,” Hoffman (2006) criticized America’s classical approach to warfare, emphasizing the transformation of warfare patterns. Concerning the Iranian context, Raji’s Ph.D. dissertation titled Western Hybrid Warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran: Dimensions and Methods (2023) used the hybrid warfare framework to analyze the Western warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In “Components of Saudi Arabia’s Hybrid Warfare Against the Islamic Republic of Iran (2015–2017),” Pourhasan (2017) examined Saudi Arabia’s measures and policies against the Islamic Republic of Iran, using the hybrid warfare framework. Moreover, “The Complexity Theory and Foreign Policy: Iran’s Strategies in West Asia” (Qasemi & Faraji, 2018) explored Iran’s strategies in the region by using complexity theory. Most of the works discussed above are subject to two main criticisms. First, many of the mentioned works do not focus on the Western hybrid warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Second, the studies that do address this subject predominantly describe the application of this form of warfare, with less attention given to strategies for countering it. Therefore, the innovation of the present research lies in two aspects: first, it is directly concerned with the Western hybrid warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and second, it addresses strategies for countering the hybrid warfare.
Materials and Methods
This study is considered a qualitative, exploratory inquiry with both developmental and applied aspects, as it tried to address hybrid warfare from two perspectives: first, from a theoretical and conceptual standpoint, focusing on the development of frameworks for understanding hybrid warfare, and second, from a practical standpoint, examining strategies for countering the Western hybrid warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a result, the findings of this study are valuable for two groups: researchers in the field of hybrid warfare and practitioners facing hybrid warfare in operational settings. The data was collected through documentary and qualitative methods, and a descriptive–analytical approach was used to analyze the data.
Results and Discussion
This research highlighted the interconnected and systemic nature of strategies designed to counter the Western hybrid war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which can be referred to as the strategy for countering hybrid warfare. The strategies for countering the Western hybrid warfare were analyzed through three frameworks: situational, methodological, and approach-based. It is crucial to consider the interdependence of these three frameworks when designing macro, semi-macro, and micro strategies. In macro strategies, the primary focus is on restoring Iran’s role in the new world order. This process arises from the synergistic integration of two key geopolitical and geoeconomic components, emphasizing the significance of the Iranian idea and narrative on the world’s transition. In semi-macro strategies, the focus shifts to an institutional review of Iran’s governance structures and efforts to promote good governance grounded in local contexts. In micro strategies, the emphasis is on the government’s ability to act in the gray area, guiding the components of a gray network in a purposeful manner.
Conclusion
Adopting a systemic and complex perspective on hybrid warfare, while avoiding a non-systemic and linear approach, is crucial for effectively countering the Western hybrid warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Keywords

• Hybrid Warfare
• West
• Islamic Republic of Iran
• Countermeasures

Main Subjects

• International Relations