The Seminar on Irregular Warfare and Hybrid Threats (SIWHT) equips participants to identify and counter malign activity in the grey zone--below the threshold of direct military action--aimed at undermining democratic institutions in order to harm national security and strain strategic alliances and partnerships. The seminar analyzes a range of irregular warfare/hybrid threat tactics across domains and throughout the spectrum of competition and conflict. Each year, the seminar has a special focus. In 2025, the program will highlight less-governed spaces in the cyber, space, and maritime domains.

Recognizing how hybrid tactics are deployed, the seminar explores innovative ways to counter them.  Participants will become acquainted with a range of tools and analytical frameworks to help their countries prevent, deter, disrupt, and defend against irregular warfare and hybrid threats, while bolstering national resiliency. Participants will also connect to an international group of security practitioners to foster effective bilateral, regional, and/or global partnering efforts.

The Seminar on Irregular Warfare and Hybrid Threats thoroughly enhances participants’ understanding of the complex and interrelated threats posed by malign actors in the grey zone, where the forces of global strategic competition frequently challenge the existing rules- based international order and exploit and erode democratic practices.  Topical lectures and in-depth discussions in small-group seminars explore core themes and case studies, while practical exercises encourage participants to learn, reflect, and apply solutions to complex challenges.  Participants are exposed to central organizations and distinguished experts working in this field thereby getting to know best practices and lessons learned first-hand while broadening their knowledge of and openness towards innovative strategies actively employed in the real world.

SIWHT brings together approximately 90 selected participants from around the world.  The seminar is ideal for mid-level professionals striving to address the challenges posed by strategic competition, irregular warfare and hybrid threats, working in government, civil society, and private-sector positions. Based on a “whole of society” approach, participants include military officers and noncommissioned officers of all military specialties; law enforcement and the judiciary; government and private-sector professionals working in foreign affairs, cybersecurity, maritime, space, strategic communications, finance, insurance/re-insurance, and sanctions; and individuals from civil society, including academics and other experts, nongovernmental organization representatives, and journalists.