This panel brings together scholars and practitioners to examine the expanding role of non-physical forms of aggression in international relations, with particular emphasis on cognitive warfare. In this context, narratives become strategic instruments aimed at shaping perceptions, influencing political behaviour and undermining social cohesion. Building directly on the themes explored in the previous panels, special attention will be devoted to the political instrumentalisation of historical narratives—particularly those concerning Kyivan Rus, imperial legacies, and regional identities—which continue to inform the contemporary geopolitical claims and strategies.
The discussion will explore how these historically rooted narratives are weaponised in the information space in order to legitimise aggression, question state sovereignty, and erode trust within and between societies. The panellists will analyse modern disinformation techniques, coordinated propaganda campaigns, and the use of digital platforms to amplify divisive messages. The growing role of artificial intelligence in generating persuasive content and automating influence operations will also be critically assessed.
Although Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine provides the immediate context, the panel will situate cognitive warfare within broader global transformations affecting the international information environment. The session aims to demonstrate that the manipulation of history is not a peripheral phenomenon but rather is a central component of contemporary strategic competition.
Panel „From Narratives to Cognitive Warfare: The New Frontlines of Conflict”