ORGANIZED CRIME GLOBALIZATION AND TRANSFORMATION INTO A POWERFUL ECONOMIC AND ARMED FORCE

In the globalized world that we live in, which is characterized by the intensification of transnational flows of goods, people and capital, and the development of new technologies, parallel to the liberalization of the market, the strengthening of organized crime is taking place. Because of its ability to parasitize on political and financial institutions and in turn spread its branches and illicit business beyond national borders, but also because of the relation to terrorism and the financing of armed conflicts in modern asymmetric conflicts, organized crime has been transformed into a mighty economic power, with the attributes of an armed power as well and the potentials to indeed become that. Starting from the position of relevant international authorities that globalization is fertile ground for the development of organized crime to unprecedented proportions, the aim of this paper is to look for an answer to the question of whether transnational organized crime can be considered one of the most powerful economic and armed powers , and if yes, to what extent, all by analysing the indicators of its power in the context of globalization and the factors affecting its strengthening.

OLD METHODS IN THE NEW FRAMEWORK”. STRATEGY OF GREY ZONES IN HYBRID WARFARE

The concept of waging conflict in Grey Zones was adopted in the US community of international security analysts several years ago. It refers to the use of primarily non-militaryinstruments to create spaces of deep conflict at multiple social, political, cultural, religious and economic levels. These conflicts take place below the threshold of war. One of the first concepts that we can consider as the genesis of this type of strategy is the concept of rebel wars created in the 1960s, by the Russian strategist, Colonel Yevgeny Messner. This new type of war was to be characterised by the predominance of civilian combat, the key importance of psychological impact and the decisive importance of the use of troops and special services. Messner also pointed to the growing role of terror in the conduct of military operations. Another important feature of the new concept was the “denationalisation of war”. Fighting social groups, military and paramilitary sub-units were to be deprived of recognition marks.Keywords: insurgency wars, asymmetric conflicts, hybrid wars, Yevgeny Messner, grey zones.

External Communication in Social Media During Asymmetric Conflicts

Social media increasingly shapes the way in which we perceive conflicts and conflict parties abroad. Conflict parties, therefore, have started using social media strategically to influence public opinion abroad. This book explores the phenomenon by examining, (1) which strategies of external communication conflict parties use during asymmetric conflicts and (2) what shapes the selection of these communication strategies. In a comprehensive case study of the conflict in Israel and Palestine, Bernd Hirschberger shows that the selection of strategies of external communication is shaped by the (asymmetric) conflict structure.

Zombie jako wyzwanie dla refleksji teoriopolitycznej i dydaktyki nauk politycznych

In recent years, zombies have made a stunning career, not only in literature and film, but also in scientificresearch. Zombies appear in scientific discourse as a reflection of fears connected with colonialism,imperialism, capitalism, consumerism, as well as metaphors for threats, like terrorism, asymmetric conflicts,epidemics and many more. It is also a useful concept for capturing ideas and theories remaining in scientificcirculation which are in fact dead. So-called “zombie-categories” reflect theories that either explain nothingor the phenomena they refer to do not exist. Taking this into account, it is hard not to use zombies in politicaltheory, especially as a useful category that enables the identification of “dead and alive” theories. Besides, zombie metaphors seem to be very promising in the political science teaching and a lot of research hasalready been undertaken in that field bringing unexpected and valuable results.

Examining the Human Security Challenges Emanating from the Weaponisation of Women. A Case study of Boko Haram and the Islamic State 2001-2018

The post-cold war period has witnessed an evolution in the nature of conflict from the new wars of the 1990s to asymmetric conflicts involving the weaponisation of civilians. This has achieved the twin objective of operating within the ranks of the combatants (in the case of women) as wives and child-bearers of the fighters, and inflicting harm on adversaries through suicide attacks. The weaponisation of women in the case of the wars in Syria and Nigeria has therefore elicited both human security challenges for the communities being targeted, and for the weaponised women. The biggest dilemma facing states of origin has been whether to accept the weaponised women’s return and rehabilitate them or declare them stateless. There has been a clear tendency to securitise them, especially when internal political dynamics are factored in. This qualitative study uses a case study approach to delve into the human security challenges emanating from the weaponisation of women in the case of Boko Haram and the Islamic State between 2001 and 2018. The paper further relies on content analysis to delve deeper into the discourse on human security. Through the use of a human security conceptual framework and securitisation theory, the paper argues that although once weaponised, some women become human security threats to targeted communities, and also face human security challenges during and after the insurgency, there is a need to deal with the women on a case-by-case basis rather than pursuing a blanket policy of securitising them. States need to work with international organisations to action processes aimed at delivering justice, demobilisation, rehabilitation, and the reintegration of these women. This will uphold international law and respect for human rights.

Warfare against terrorism and colonial experience of European powers in the expert opinions of RAND Corporation

The subject of this research is the expert opinions of RAND Corporation prepared during the warfare against terrorism. Their characteristic feature consists in reference to the colonial experience of the leading European powers in counter-insurgency. Special attention is given to the analysis of two vectors in the activity RAND Corporation: publication of the articles of 1960s-1970s dedicated to the problems of anti-insurrection and adaptation of the colonial experience of counter-insurgency activity to the new conditions of warfare against terrorism in the Near and Middle East. The selected methodology demonstrates how the leading powers perceive the role of colonial knowledge in ensuring domestic security in the “third world” countries (it refers to the lessons of history analyzed on the expert level within the framework of historical modeling of asymmetric conflicts). The conclusion is made that the expert opinions of RAND Corporation virtually resemble the key expert opinions of the time of Vietnam War, but adjusted them to the current conditions of warfare against terrorism. The aforementioned works were rather used for justification of the decisions of political and military elites, and clarification of the context and origins of the new American anti-insurrection doctrine to mainstream audience, as well as to the U. S. officials and commanders inexperienced in subjection of the rebels.

French participation in EUNAVFOR Somalia

Piracy, once a novel phenomenon in the already altered security environment along Somali coasts following the millennium, has become a factor threatening the stability of the region. This is despite the fact that along African coastlines steady inter-national military presence has always been ensured, since 70 percent of the European Union’s sea trade is conducted through this region. France – putting into action both its political and military powers – has actively participated in the fight against piracy in the region by providing continual as well as situational aid, which in my opinion proves both France’s interest in the region as well as their aspiration to be an all-time leading power in Europe. Moreover, demonstrating and analysing France’s participation might also contribute to pre-planning future naval operations as regards asymmetric conflicts.