JAKE BEBBER
War has shifted far beyond the realm of traditional kinetic operations. We now face an era defined by what experts call cognitive warfare, an insidious form of conflict aimed at influencing how people think and act, destabilizing the very bedrock of democratic institutions and national security.
Unlike information warfare, which manipulates what we think, cognitive warfare disrupts the way we think—rationality itself. It uses neuroscience, data analytics, and algorithm-based strategies to achieve strategic advantage. Developing a framework to counter this threat is not just essential; it is urgent.
Potential adversaries are working hard to extend their advantage in this relatively new domain. China’s military thinkers talk openly about the pursuit of “biological dominance” and “cognitive control.” They deploy sophisticated strategies that fuse their traditional information operations with cognitive warfare capabilities, all aimed at achieving strategic victories without direct conflict. Their integrated use of cyber tools, brain science, and algorithm-driven propaganda creates a toolkit designed to sow doubt, fracture cohesion within societies and alliances, and erode the U.S.’s strategic position. Meanwhile, Russia has a long history of using “active measures” and disinformation to disrupt democratic processes, refining its methods to incorporate the digital tools and tactics of modern cognitive warfare.
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