OPERATIONAL ART AND COGNITIVE WARFARE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68302/std2026.vol1.45Keywords:
cognitive warfare, operational art, cognitive superiority, doctrinal asymmetryAbstract
The report examines the transformation of operational art under the influence of cognitive warfare. The main focus is on the strategic asymmetry between the leading global military doctrines. Through a systematic analysis, differences in approaches are revealed – NATO’s reactive-defensive model aimed at societal resilience; the US’s proactive model striving for cognitive dominance; Russia’s offensive reflexive management and China’s intelligentized warfare. The results of the study prove that the cognitive dimension is becoming a critical factor for success in multi-domain operations, where victory is defined by breaking the enemy’s will and paralyzing his decision-making processes. Guidelines are proposed for integrating cognitive effects into operational design and developing new metrics for effectiveness.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Milko Stefanov
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
