Cognitive Warfare in the Caucasus

Abstract

Cognitive warfare, as an emerging domain of contemporary security, is increasingly drawing the attention of international organizations and academic scholarship. In NATO and partner institutions’ discussions, it is conceptualized as the “sixth domain of warfare,” where the battlefield extends beyond the physical environment to encompass human consciousness and perception. The Caucasus region, with its geopolitical vulnerability and strategic significance, is particularly sensitive to such influences. Actors operating in the region, both states and informal groups, employ mechanisms of disinformation, reflexive control, and narrative manipulation to shape public opinion and political decision-making. Existing research indicates that Russian information strategies, as well as Turkish and Iranian narratives, significantly influence the regional cognitive environment, while local media ecosystems and non-governmental organizations represent both points of vulnerability and potential avenues for resilience-building. This article aims to integrate theoretical frameworks of cognitive warfare with practical experiences from the Caucasus in order to assess the adequacy of current policies and to identify strategies that may effectively enhance resilience.