Interstate and Intrastate Conflict Introduction Interstate and intrastate conflict represent two broad categories of armed conflict classified according to where the principal parties to the conflict are located and who is fighting whom. Interstate conflict primarily involves states fighting one another. Intrastate conflict occurs primarily within the territory of a state and usually involves the…

War and Armed Conflict Introduction War and armed conflict are central concepts in international relations, strategic studies, international law and political history. They describe organized violence involving states, non-state actors or both. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they have different analytical and legal applications. War traditionally refers to sustained organized armed violence between…

Hybrid Warfare and Grey-Zone Competition Introduction Hybrid warfare and grey-zone competition describe strategies that combine different instruments of power to achieve political or strategic objectives while avoiding, limiting or complicating conventional military confrontation. These concepts are particularly relevant to contemporary international security because modern competition increasingly occurs across military, economic, political, informational, cyber and technological…

Collective Security and Collective Defence Introduction Collective security and collective defence are important concepts in international security. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they describe different institutional and strategic arrangements. Collective security is based on the principle that aggression against one member is a concern for the wider international community and that members should…

Deterrence, Compellence and Containment Introduction Deterrence, compellence and containment are major concepts in international security and strategic studies. They describe different ways in which states attempt to influence the behaviour of other states, armed groups or strategic competitors. Deterrence seeks to prevent an action by threatening unacceptable consequences. Compellence seeks to make an actor undertake,…