Abu Dhabi

Source: Mufakiru Alemarat

Dr. Ali Mohamed Al Khouri

Fifth-Generation Warfare is a qualitative development in the methods and tools of international conflicts. It is based on the use of advanced technology such as artificial intelligence systems and fully autonomous systems to achieve strategic objectives in innovative and indirect ways, making it one of the most dangerous forms of modern warfare. What distinguishes these wars is the use of advanced psychological methods, cyber attacks, and systematic manipulation of information, exploiting gaps in the digital and security systems of the targeted countries, with the aim of spreading intellectual and social chaos and weakening national security, which may extend to threatening stability in the international environment.

Digital Security

According to a report by cybersecurity research firm Cybersecurity Ventures, cyberattacks increased by 38 percent in 2023, primarily targeting government digital infrastructure such as power grids, health services, and transportation systems. Statistics in the report indicate that these cyber threats target millions of vital devices and systems worldwide every day, and that the resulting global losses exceeded $8.4 trillion in 2022, compared to $5.99 trillion the year before.

World Bank reports show that emerging economies have lost nearly 12 percent of their GDP due to cyber attacks in the last ten years, which shows the huge impact of these wars on the stability of developing countries and the weakening of the ability of national systems to respond to crises.

Community behavior and public opinion

Daniel Abbott, an American writer and researcher specializing in cyber affairs, points out in his book “The Fifth Generation Warfare Guide,” that this type of war is “a war of information and perception,” as it aims to influence the mentality and behavior of society, as well as general ideas and perceptions, instead of focusing on destroying the physical infrastructure.

These wars are facilitated by the heavy and excessive reliance on advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis, which has allowed for the understanding of behavioral patterns, the guidance of individual and collective decisions, and the creation of a new reality without the full awareness and consciousness of individuals.

According to a study by Stanford University, 64 percent of misinformation published online is shared without verification. Meanwhile, a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that false news spreads faster than real news, being retweeted 70 percent more than true news. This data shows how the systematic use of digital technologies can turn information platforms into strategic weapons in modern conflicts, especially those aimed at influencing public opinion and directing collective behavior.

Cultural identity

Cultural identity is one of the main objectives of fifth-generation warfare, especially since it seeks to confuse targeted countries and societies from within, by spreading extremist ideologies, weakening national values, and fueling social and political divisions. According to a study issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 47 percent of young people in some regions of the world suffer from a clear decline in their connection to their national identities, as a result of systematic external influences that seek to reshape their cultural and political awareness. Several studies confirm that cultural identity has become the main target of information wars by exploiting digital media to create cultural and social rifts within societies.

Recommendations

Cybersecurity is a national priority

To address these complex and interconnected challenges, Arab governments must adopt integrated strategies that integrate technology, public policy, and economic and social development. In this context, cybersecurity must be redefined as the cornerstone of protecting national infrastructure, and must become a core focus of national security strategies to ensure security and development.

Establishing joint cyber commands may be a more effective way to support national cyber capabilities, as they can provide a defensive umbrella to address transnational challenges. International models such as those of the United States, China, Russia, and European countries can also be leveraged as benchmarks for supporting defensive and offensive capabilities, including proactive policies based on data and advanced technology.

Intellectual security

The cybersecurity framework must include intellectual, cultural and social systems, so that it becomes a pillar for preserving national identity and intellectual awareness. What is required here is to build a national intellectual system based on collective awareness and resistance to external influences; to ensure the resilience of the social fabric in the face of various pressures that threaten the security and stability of the homeland. This construction begins with updating policies, educational curricula, empowering community institutions, and developing the national content on which intellectual and cultural security is based.

Media Strategies

Governments must also invest in media education and awareness to enhance the “digital immunity” of societies, including training individuals to understand artificial intelligence technologies and analyze data used in media disinformation. Knowledge is a defensive tool that represents the first line of defense against disinformation and social engineering campaigns that have become dependent on renewed methods to destabilize today’s societies. Hence, the existence of a smart and integrated media strategy, supported by technological tools and cybersecurity mechanisms, is an urgent necessity to confront media disinformation, raise community awareness, and ensure the sustainability of national efforts.

In addition to national digital media platforms and awareness campaigns, as mentioned in the previous context, it is important to focus on incorporating digital education into educational curricula and cultural initiatives to connect youth to national values ​​and identity, and build a community awareness capable of resisting cultural and psychological manipulation, which has become ingrained in the design of a number of social media platforms.

Transparency and trust

Media strategies must rely on building interactive channels of communication and interaction between citizens and state institutions, because transparency is an ethical requirement and a strategic tool for building trust and strengthening the social fabric. In a world where internal and external risks are increasing, trust becomes the bulwark that protects societies from slipping into chaos. Research studies confirm that countries that enjoy high levels of social and institutional trust are more able to withstand cyber attacks and media disinformation campaigns.

Private sector involvement

In this context, involving the private sector in protecting society and strengthening its unity is a pivotal factor, as it employs more than 80 percent of the population of the Arab region, or about 120 million at the very least. Hence, this sector goes beyond being an economic tool, and has become a strategic partner that can play a fundamental role in directing society towards greater social cohesion and national awareness, through social responsibility initiatives and the development of awareness programs that aim to enhance national belonging and strengthen cultural and social ties.

The private sector must also be a key partner in securing digital infrastructure through innovation, investing in developing technological solutions, sponsoring training initiatives to qualify local competencies, and supporting national digital protection systems.

International legal and regulatory frameworks

Logically, the challenges of fifth-generation warfare cannot be addressed alone; meaning that there is an urgent need for multilateral regional cooperation to establish a legal and regulatory framework that sets clear limits on the use of modern technologies and ensures adherence to ethical standards for the safe and sustainable use of technology. In addition, major global powers must play a leading role in cooperation in this regard, not only to protect their national interests, but to protect the international system as a whole; adopting a common vision based on promoting peace and moving towards sustainable diplomatic solutions are two strategic necessities to escape the cycles of uncontrolled use of technology, which may lead to the collapse of the existing global system, and to create new paths that consolidate international stability and cooperation.

Preparing for the future

Finally, while nations continue to face the complex challenges posed by fifth-generation warfare, a new phase of conflict is looming on the horizon: sixth-generation warfare, which academic and military circles have begun to address in recent years with the advancement of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. These warfare is characterized by a strategy of “network targeting” that focuses on disrupting the infrastructure and vital systems, including the defensive capabilities of the targeted nations; there is no doubt that the scope of the impact will be very profound in a world where technology has become its backbone.

The success of countries in confronting and keeping pace with the changes imposed by these wars depends on their ability to build proactive scenarios and adopt innovative policies to build a cohesive society that is intellectually and culturally fortified from within.

At the conceptual level, security at the national and global levels in the future cannot be guaranteed unless it is based on a foundation of deep understanding and awareness of the ongoing transformations, and a focus on developing strategies that combine the optimal use of technology, enhancing intellectual and cultural immunity, and raising societal awareness. Governments are faced with a clear requirement to build a forward-looking vision that places the protection of cyber borders and intellectual and social security at the forefront of national strategies; to ensure stability and the ability to confront emerging risks.