The use of cognitive warfare in contemporary international
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64184/ajlps.V3.I3.Y2026.p.897-928.447Keywords:
Cognitive – Information – Social Engineering – Psychological Manipulation – Narratives.Abstract
The success in war does not depend solely on military action, as military action is the least effective way to subdue an enemy. The highest achievement, he asserts, is to subdue the enemy without fighting. This statement highlights the importance of the cognitive or perceptual context. Through cognitive warfare, a new front in the evolution of conflict, a state can prevent or destroy the adversary's thought processes, diminish their perception of the situation, paralyze their decision-making abilities, and force them to follow the aggressor's objectives. This is achieved by targeting cognitive elements such as attitudes, beliefs, and understanding. This applies to the Russian war on Ukraine, where Russia's approach to cognitive warfare is based on the Soviet model of reflexive control, cyber operations, disinformation, and the use of non-state actors, particularly security companies and the Orthodox Church, to destabilize the adversary and create uncertainty.
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