ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 ‘On the Sub-Threshold of Modernity and War’ introduces perspectives on one of the key contemporary debates on the changing nature of war and international conflict: the emergence of concepts and practices in terms of sub-threshold actions, the grey zone, unrestricted warfare, liminal war, the Gerasimov Doctrine. The chapter suggests that a key trend in war, security and international politics will be responding to what Paul Virilio described after 9/11 as a time of impure war; it is suggested that the liberal way of warfare will likely continue to be focused on the conflicts with actors exploiting vulnerabilities in the infrastructures of liberal societies—but also with states carrying out ‘sub-threshold’ actions against liberal states. The chapter outlines ideas emerging from Russia and China on the emerging tactics and technology of warfare and international conflict and competition. But the chapter argues that the tactics outlined in these Russia and Chinese writings also describe the trends in the liberal way of warfare. While these ‘sub-threshold’ trends in competition, conflict and warfare might be viewed as an improvement in international relations, there are troubling ethical and strategic questions raised in this time of unrestricted warfare. One of the key questions on the horizon is on what type of state and military will be the most ‘creative’ in the terrains of future war and security.
