جنگ نرم در عصر اطلاعات

In The Name of Allah 

Soft Warfare in the Age of Communication 

 Definition:  

 The war in which the deliberate and pre-planned actions are  

performed by using propaganda, media, political, cultural and psychological tools and  

methods to influence governments, groups and people of foreign countries for the changes  

in their beliefs, values, political and ideological thoughts. 

 Background:  

 Technological evolution in the field of communication have influenced  

the issue of impenetrability of countries in the domain of international politics. This issue  

indicates that new patterns are shaping in the relation of countries. The issue of Soft  

Warfare is among the concepts which was shaped along with growth of and expansion of  

mass communication tools i.e print, electronic and social media, especially after the third  

wave of technological revolution. The first applied domain of the soft warfare in Eastern  

Europe was tested in 80's. US could pave the path for shaping democratic movements  

using media, social institutions, NGO's and civil organization. 

 Aims and Objectives:  

 Penetration in social, cultural, political and ideological affairs of opposition (enemy). 

 Target the opposition without any violence and military conflicts with less budget. 

 Change the views of all groups of a society according to your own will. 

 Cultural, political and ideological domination over the country or society. 

INFLUENCE OF COMMUNICATION  

After the 1990, there is a massive development and change in the field of  

communication which is also known as "The Age of Communication". I mentioned three of  

its main causes below: 

 The destruction of USSR. 

 Changes in the International politics. (USA becomes Super Power) 

 Development in communication technology. 

It’s the era of communication. The world is moving towards Globalization and becoming  

a "Global Village". Today, the source of power is communication. The more country has a  

communication tools and resources, more will powerful and advanced.  

Now a days, the first world countries like USA and European countries have great  

influence over the third world countries because of their Advanced communicating  

technologies. These countries have control on a large scale over the political, social, cultural  

and economical changes of the developing countries (Third World). The weapons used in the

In The Name of Allah 

soft wars are communication tools and methods i.e electronic and social media. These  

developed countries in the soft warfare targets the governments, groups and different classes  

of a society by using media and cultural measures for their personnel interests. Below I will  

discuss the influence of Media in the political, social and cultural transformation.  

Influence on Political transformation:  

The powerful countries can form or demolish governments. For example, in the recent past,  

we observed the political changes in Venezuela and the role of super powers in these crisis.  

Similarly, we witnessed the role of Russia in the last US Presidential elections. The role of  

USA in the political crisis in Egypt, Sudan, Libya etc are in front of us. Also we have observed  

the interference of USA in Iranian political crisis in 2009. 

In the internal political affairs, we can also see the use of media by political parties and  

different pressure groups. They use social media in their favor to gain the support of the  

people and also use a media as an effective tool against their opposition.  

Influence on social transformation:  

The world powers in a soft warfare use a media as an effective weapon to change the social  

circumstances of a society. For these purpose, they form different social organization, NGO's  

and civil societies and give them funds and financial assistance to work for their interests.  

These NGO's and organizations come forward with different slogans and ideas like "human  

rights", "feminism", "democracy" etc. They are also active on social media. For example, the  

point of view Western people about Eastern people and especially Islam.  

Influence on cultural transformation:  

The super powers also use a communication measures and tools to put influence on different  

cultures. Through social media, they preach their own cultural norms and attract the people  

relating from other cultures. For example, the superiority of western culture in the eyes of  

eastern peoples.  

Conclusion  

The objective of soft warfare is to overthrow a political system and penetrate in the affairs of  

different countries; by soft we mean, by overthrowing by mean of collection of measures in the  

framework of law, without violence and intervention of foreigners. It can done by using a  

communication tools and resources. So the communication has a great and vast influence on  

today's political, cultural, social, psychological and economical affairs.  

Date. 23/02/98 

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