The Role of the Media in a Democratic Society in the Context of an Existential Threat of a Military Nature

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive, systematic, and multidimensional theoretical and empirical analysis of the functioning of media institutions in a democratic society under the direct and prolonged influence of an existential military threat. The evolutionary trajectory of strategic communication models is examined through the example of Ukraine’s experience countering the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation during 2014–2026. It has been established that this complex evolution is characterized by a fundamental transition from a reactive, defense-oriented model (primarily aimed at refuting disinformation) to a proactive strategy of deliberately constructing a national grand narrative, a vivid and effective example of which is the large-scale information campaign “Be Brave Like Ukraine”. The study highlights key trends in the exponential growth of the influence of unregulated digital platforms and messaging apps (primarily Telegram) in a context where cognitive influence plays a key role in the hybrid component of warfare. In addition, a thorough theoretical extrapolation and an in-depth comparison were conducted with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) current doctrinal approaches to the organization of strategic communications and information operations (in accordance with the current basic standards AJP-10, AJP-10. 1 and AJP-10.3). Additionally, an expanded comparative analysis of the experience of managing the information environment during recent high-intensity armed conflicts in various geopolitical macro-regions was conducted. In particular, the State of Israel’s experience during the military operation “Iron Swords” was analyzed. Sociological tools were used to examine the relationship between the intensity of information flow consumption, the psychological state of the population, and the preservation of institutional trust in the government during periods of peak security tension. The study also examines the Republic of Turkey’s strategy during cross-border military operations, specifically the use of the geostrategic doctrine of the “Blue Homeland” as a conceptual framework for public diplomacy to articulate the state’s maritime interests and consolidate domestic consensus on security issues. The study’s findings reveal that mass communication institutions are among the fundamental and system-forming factors in global competition for cognitive dominance, facilitating the comprehensive mobilization of societal resources.