Life in the “Gray Zone”: observations for contemporary strategists

James J. Wirtz

Defense & Security Analysis, 2017, vol. 33, issue 2, 106-114

Abstract: The term “Gray Zone” is gaining in popularity as a way of describing contemporary security challenges. This article describes the “short-of-war” strategies – the fait accompli, proxy warfare, and the exploitation of ambiguous deterrence situations, i.e. “salami tactics” – that are captured by the term and offers several explanations for why state and non-state actors are drawn to these strategies. The analysis highlights why defense postures based on deterrence are especially vulnerable to the short-of-war strategies that populate the “Gray Zone.” The article concludes by suggesting how defense officials might adapt defense policies to life in the “Gray Zone.”

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1080/14751798.2017.1310702

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