Chapter Twenty One
Beyond the Tornado: Strengthening Societal Resilience Against Hybrid Warfare
Beth Kunce
Resilience is not about bouncing back to where you were—it’s about bouncing forward to where you should be.
— Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy, Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back, 2012
Abstract
Societal resilience is crucial in today’s interconnected world, but current approaches often focus narrowly on traditional defense measures. This chapter argues for a broader understanding of resilience, encompassing social cohesion, trust in institutions, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Reviewing recent efforts by the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and select member states, it identifies critical gaps and opportunities to balance traditional defense with whole-of-society strategies. By prioritizing the critical foundation of social cohesion, resilience becomes a dynamic process, empowering communities to adapt and thrive. This chapter urges policymakers to broaden resilience efforts beyond traditional defense institutions toward a more comprehensive approach, starting with the resilience of the individual and building up to strengthen the domestic foundation of national defense.
