МЕДИАПРОСТРАНСТВО КАК АРЕНА ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЙ ВОЙНЫ: МАНИПУЛИРОВАНИЕ ОБЩЕСТВЕННЫМ СОЗНАНИЕМ В МИРОВОЙ ПОЛИТИКЕ

The article examines the role of mass media in contemporary international relations and analyzes the mechanisms of media manipulation that influence political perceptions of international events. The study aims to provide a theoretical assessment of the role of mass media in world politics and identify the principal methods of selecting, structuring, and interpreting information through which public opinion and perceptions of foreign policy processes are influenced. The methodological framework combines systemic and comparative approaches, a theoretical review of scholarly literature, and a conceptual analysis of political communication mechanisms. The article examines theoretical perspectives on symbolic power, the influence of communication media on public consciousness, the network-based nature of contemporary power, propaganda, cultural hegemony, and agenda-setting. Particular attention is paid to selective fact selection, framing, contextualization of messages, emotionalization of information, repetition of political narratives, and the creation of an illusion of pluralism. Drawing on theoretical approaches and studies by Kazakhstani and Turkish scholars, the research explores the relationship between media communication, geopolitical competition, and information confrontation. The findings indicate that the influence of mass media depends not only on the content of information but also on how it is presented, the sequence in which it is delivered, and the interpretive frameworks through which it is perceived. The article concludes that media manipulation constitutes a multilevel mechanism of political influence capable of shaping images of international actors, legitimizing foreign policy decisions, and affecting perceptions of international conflicts. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of its findings to research on international political communication and information warfare, as well as to the development of critical thinking and media literacy.