Cognitive Warfare as a Strategic Domain: Media Ecosystems, Social Networks, and the Erosion of Societal Resilience

Authors

  • Goran D. MATIĆ Faculty of Business Studies and Law, “Union Nikola Tesla” University, Belgrade, Serbia, Military Academy, University of Defense, Belgrade https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8443-5797

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-26-06

Keywords:

Cognitive Warfare;, Information Operations, Media Autonomy;, Social Networks, Disinformation;, Societal Resilience, DOI;, Information Integrity.

Abstract

Cognitive warfare has emerged as a distinct domain of modern conflict, reshaping national security by targeting perception, belief systems, and decision-making rather than physical assets. The rise of artificial intelligence marks a historic threshold: algorithms now act not merely as tools but as autonomous agents in shaping public cognition, enabling real-time, personalized manipulation at scale. This article examines how independent media, social networks, and algorithmic systems are weaponized to erode trust and polarize societies. Case studies from Serbia, Ukraine, and Moldova reveal how media monopolization, disinformation, and hybrid threats exploit vulnerabilities in open information ecosystems. The paper argues that cognitive defense must move beyond reactive countermeasures toward institutional safeguards, media autonomy, and civic literacy. Drawing on the DOI system, it proposes a cognitive infrastructure grounded in persistence, traceability, decentralization, and interoperability—embedding democratic resilience into the architecture of communication and ensuring technological innovation does not devolve into authoritarian control.

Author Biography

Goran D. MATIĆ, Faculty of Business Studies and Law, “Union Nikola Tesla” University, Belgrade, Serbia, Military Academy, University of Defense, Belgrade

Alongiside performing his official duties as Director of the Office of the National Security Council and Classified Information Protection ofthe Republic of Serbia, Goran Matić has pursued an academic career, serving as an Associate Professor of security studies at "Union-Nikola Tesla"
University, and military law and international humanitarian law at the Military Academy of the University of Defense, both based in Belgrade.
His teaching portfolio extends to visiting lectureships at the Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade, the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, and the Academy for National Security, reflecting his broad influence across Serbia's higher education institutions.
His scholarly contributions include numerous articles in leading national defense and criminology journals, as well as several major works. He authored the monograph Political Delicts - Assassination and Rebellion and co-authored the books Tactics and Methods of Intelligence-Security Services and Basics of Security. Since 2022, he has also expanded into vocational education, designing and teaching programs on classified information, trade secret protection, and personal data protection, thereby bridging academic theory with practical application.
Beyond traditional academia, Matić is an accredited lecturer at the National Academy for Public Administration (NAPA), where he has contributed to professional development in egovernment, digitalization, and public administration. His role on expert commissions, examination boards, and professional associations further underscores his commitment to advancing knowledge and standards in security education, ensuring that his academic work resonates both within universities and across Serbia's broader public and corporate sectors.
For an extensive list of publications, see:

https://enauka.gov.rs/simplesearch?query=%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD+D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%9B&location=global

Downloads

Published

2026-04-09

How to Cite

D. MATIĆ, G. . (2026). Cognitive Warfare as a Strategic Domain: Media Ecosystems, Social Networks, and the Erosion of Societal Resilience. BULLETIN OF "CAROL I" NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY, 15(1), 87–104. https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-26-06

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

The published articles are subject to copyright law. All rights are reserved to the “Carol I” National Defense University, regardless of whether all or part of the material are considered, especially the rights to translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, quotations, broadcasting through the media, reproduction on microfilms or any other way and storage in data banks. Any replicas without the associated fees are authorized provided the source is acknowledged.