Today’s world, scene of hegemonic powers’ soft war (1)

Welcome to the 1st episode of the series 'Today’s world, scene of hegemonic powers’ soft war'. Today, we study the tools and parameters of soft war.

One of the major characteristic features of soft war is that no physical or tough dispute takes place within its framework. Soft war is a cultural war. The enemies intend to seize the values and beliefs of a nation in soft war. The seizure of hearts and minds is the main goal of soft war and whenever this goal is achieved the opposition group is turned into a group of insiders and therefore there is no need for military occupation of the targeted country and/or official and direct involvement in order to change the ruling system. It goes without saying that the means of soft war are cultural and ideological tools. Such tools in fact manifest the difference of soft war with conventional wars.

If one would want to mention the most important tools of soft war, he should certainly refer to media, such as press, news agencies, radio, television, satellites and Internet. The main function of media is to convey a message to its addressees, which in turn highly contributes to formation of public opinion. This characteristic feature of media has currently taken their role to a new dimension, turning media outlets into means for advancement of the goals of hegemonic powers. These tools pose a threat against personal, national, and global security. A glance at the measures taken by different media confirms this bitter fact.

Radio can be named as one of the oldest means and tools of soft war. This media can go beyond boundaries and capture the attention of a wide range of listeners. In the past 100 years, radio has played an important role in shaping the public opinion, and the rivalry of the media outlets of different countries and groups. For instance, “Azadi” Radio opposed Eastern bloc and the former Soviet Union throughout the Cold War, and highly contributed to the US propaganda campaign in the soft war against the former Soviet Union, such that a number of thinkers have pointed out the serious impact of this radio station on the collapse of Soviet Union. Today, despite the emergence of more modern media, the radio networks are still used by many in the international community, leading hegemonic powers to take advantage of radio networks in soft war.

Television is also one of the most important media in soft war. It can be said that in the contemporary world, television acts like the ears and eyes of mankind. This magical box leaves a magical impact on the thoughts, ethics, and behavior patterns of viewers, and has therefore captured the attention of politicians. Although television maintains several positive functions, it is a means used by domineering powers to advance and guide their goal. In the recent years, in which this media has been activated in online networks, an especial opportunity has risen for hegemonic powers to advance their goals. For instance, BBC Persian online TV network which has been launched into operation as of the year 2007 was highly active amid Iran’s 10th presidential election, such that according to some thinkers, it was launched solely for this purpose.

Meanwhile, the two modern media of Internet and satellite channels play a wider role in soft war, given that they go beyond boundaries; put behind many hurdles; capture the attention of more viewers; and can present a diverse range of attractive programs, turning them into the most important tool of the perpetrators of soft war. These media can disintegrate the community and wipe out the national identity of a country. Satellites are communicational means which have been swiftly developed following their invention and have turned into unique tools in conveyance of pictures, and radio and television messages in the world of communications.

The multipurpose utilization of satellite networks and speedy information dissemination by them has promoted the scope of satellite networks compared to other media. This especial feature of media has led to spread of soft war in the contemporary world. Currently, receipt of several radio and TV frequencies has become feasible via satellites. The satellite networks have turned into tools of hegemonic powers to wage soft wars within the framework of psychological operations, spread of rumors, and political propaganda campaign.

Currently, no nation can be found that has not been covered by satellite waves. The vastness of satellite networks has turned them into an important means for speedy materialization of the goals of domineering powers.

The significant important of Internet, as a modern media, is also known to all. Given the unique attractions and large-scale influence of this communicational tool in different communities and its low costs, no other mass media can rival the Internet. The unique impact of this media has turned it into the most important means of soft war waged by domineering powers against different cultures and nations, in the recent years.

Emergence of social networks has contributed to the role of Internet in stirring riots and forming political and social gatherings. In the incidents that took place after the 10th presidential elections in Iran, the role of sites such as Twitter and Facebook in provoking disturbances was known to all. These sites posted fake and baseless reports, unofficially guiding disturbances.

Major Powers such as the US are in need of a series of acceptable values throughout their ruled communities in a bid to justify the pursuance of their interests. Thus, upon the fall of Eastern bloc, the world powers such as the US, in an effort to continue their belligerent policies, needed to introduce a new enemy who would facilitate their foreign policy. Introduction of the phenomenon of Islamophobia was part of the world powers’ policies to this end.

MR/ME