Cognitive Warfare in Historical Perspective: From Cold War Psychological Operations to AI-Driven Information Campaigns

Cognitive warfare is often presented as a radically new threat born of social media platforms and artificial intelligence. This article places cognitive warfare in historical perspective, arguing that it represents the latest phase in a longer genealogy of practices designed to shape perceptions, emotions and decision-making in peace and war. Drawing on conceptual history and a comparative analysis of selected cases—from Second World War propaganda and Cold War psychological operations to post-2014 Russian information campaigns and COVID-19 disinformation—the study traces continuities and ruptures in the use of information as a strategic weapon. The article shows how enduring logics of persuasion, fear and identity politics have been repeatedly adapted to changing media ecologies, from radio and television to networked platforms and algorithmic targeting. At the same time, it highlights genuinely novel features introduced by datafication and AI-enabled content production, including scale, speed and personalization. The conclusion proposes a historically grounded definition of cognitive warfare and suggests that viewing it as part of a century-long transformation of the “battlefield of the mind” can help reframe current debates in security studies, international law and media history.