Legal Warfare as a Strategic Instrument in the Configuration of Contemporary Conflicts

Abstract In the context of the intensification of hybrid wars and global geopolitical competition, international law and national legal norms no longer function solely as regulatory mechanisms but have become instruments of influence within the logic of confrontation. This article examines the main modalities of lawfare, ranging from the use of international courts and the imposition of economic sanctions to the exploitation of normative gaps and the adoption of legislation with extraterritorial effects. The analysis of representative case studies (Israel-Palestine, USA-China, Russia-Ukraine) demonstrates that lawfare simultaneously serves as a tool for justifying one’s own actions and discrediting adversaries, producing significant consequences for public perception and the balance of power. The article highlights the consolidation of lawfare as a strategic instrument of hybrid warfare and underscores its implications for the stability and legitimacy of international law.