Cognitive warfare:an urgent fix for the Italian definition.

Cognitive warfare (CW) is emerging as a new paradigm in modern conflicts, attractingincreasing attention in international strategic debates. This study critically analyzes theconcept of CW as defined in the 2023 document "Cognitive Warfare - Competition in theCognitive Dimension" by the Italian Defence General Staff (IDGS). Through a qualitative andtextual analysis based on strategic sciences, the research aims to evaluate the conceptualsolidity of the current Italian definition of CW. The results highlight some deficienciesregarding the nature of CW, its relationship with historical principles of military deception,and the specificity of its objectives. The study proposes alternative definitions and concreterecommendations to refine and consolidate the Italian concept of cognitive warfare, thuscontributing to its theoretical and operational development. Implications of this study canenlarge the field of discussion about cognitive warfare and support the IDGS in its conceptualwork.