European Security and Hybrid Threats

Hybrid threats have been defined in various ways by different security actors, with their scope continuously expanding to encompass emerging insecurities within the evolving security environment. As an umbrella term encompassing a wide spectrum of threats with complex and multidimensional features, the notion of hybrid threats remains inherently vague and amorphous. This lack of clarity presents significant challenges for policymakers, who must constantly identify potential dangers, anticipate risks, and formulate effective responses to safeguard their polities and populations. Consequently, a persistent sense of insecurity has become a defining characteristic of the current European security landscape.

This ‘new normal’ of European security is characterised by a series of ‘(un)known unknowns’ that fall under the elusive concept of hybrid threats. However, rather than accepting this evolving security paradigm at face value, this study calls for a critical examination of its underlying assumptions, core concepts, and broader political implications. It argues that the hybrid threat narrative demands a re-evaluation of what security means in contemporary Europe and how it is operationalised.

Moreover, the study underscores the expansive nature of the hybrid threat framework, which has the potential to include virtually any domain – ranging from education and technology to research and public infrastructure – thereby contributing to the securitisation of all aspects of social and political life. This expansive and ambiguous framing raises important questions about the limits of security and allocation of resources, carrying considerable implications for democratic governance in Europe.

Dr Zeynep Arkan is an Associate Professor of International Relations at Hacettepe University (Ankara) and a Visiting Fellow at the Österreichisches Institut für Internationale Politik (Vienna). She holds a BSc from Middle East Technical University (Ankara), an MA from Exeter University (Exeter), and a PhD from the University of Kent (Canterbury).