Characteristics and Dynamics of Hybrid Action in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing a complex spectrum of contemporary hybrid actions that undermine the stability, institutional integrity and social cohesion of the state. In the context of geopolitical competition, particularly expressed through the strategies of Russian hybrid actions, Bosnia and Herzegovina is becoming subject to multidimensional pressures that manifest themselves through information operations, political instrumentalization of ethnic divisions, energy and economic dependencies, and targeted undermining of trust in democratic institutions. These threats operate simultaneously in the information, political, economic and cognitive domains, creating a complex environment to which traditional security mechanisms cannot adequately respond. The aim of this paper is to offer a systemic analysis of the components of contemporary hybrid actions directed towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a special focus on Russian destabilization strategies. In addition to the analytical overview, the paper also identifies key points of resilience that the country must build in order to successfully respond to these challenges. Additionally, the paper aims to raise awareness of the need to strengthen resilience to hybrid warfare and proposes guidelines for improving state capacities, strengthening cognitive and institutional resilience, and creating a comprehensive counter-hybrid strategy tailored to the specific political and social context of Bosnia and Herzegovina.