Hybrider Krieg in Zeiten der Geopolitik? Zur Deutung und Charakterisierung des Donbass-Konflikt

The interpretation of the Donbass conflict is highly controversial - not only in Ukraine, but also among external observers. Two theses are represented particularly prominent: First, the conflict is characterized as a prime example of a "hybrid war"; secondly, based on the perspective of geopolitics, the war is interpreted as the result of competitive, hegemonic claims of the West and Russia. However, both theories operate with a steering and control imperative which reduces the role of local actors and their agendas to dependent variables of great powers. By contrast, the article advocates for a conflict-sociological approach which clearly shows that external actors to a much greater extent are driven by local conflict dynamics than both theses would admit.