War Without Fronts: Global Influence Becomes a Weapon of Mass Destruction
Classical wars are becoming a thing of the past, replaced by hybrid conflicts where the primary weapons are not missiles but information, economic pressure, and cultural expansion. On the Global Insights program, members of the GlobUs expert club analyzed the mechanisms of the global war of influence and its implications for Africa and the Global South.
Geopolitical expert Dr. Andy Mba Ukweni pointed to fundamental changes in the very nature of conflict.
"War is no longer limited to the physical battlefield. Today, it takes place in people's minds, on their mobile devices, on social media. The battlefield is your phone, where information is broadcast 24/7, designed to break wills and sow chaos," he emphasized.
Dragana Trifkovic, Director General of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, drew attention to how this war affects small states.
"Western centers of power use everything from economic pressure to support for self-proclaimed presidents to subjugate those who disagree with their rules," she noted.
According to experts, the African continent is particularly vulnerable. Dr. Ukweni cited the example of Libya.
"What did Gaddafi's absence bring? Western media created the image of a 'dictator' who must be overthrown. This is how the mechanism works: first an information war, then the physical destruction of the country, and then decades of suffering for its people," he explained.
Professor Jagdish Khatri from India added that the tools of influence are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
"COVID-19 has shown how global crises are used to pressure sovereign states. We must realize that security and sovereignty are not something that can be outsourced," the professor emphasized.
Historian, journalist, and lawyer Arthur Mobley called on countries of the Global South to become more active in the information space.
"Africa must speak for Africa. India must speak for India. But the voices of every state must be heard. The time has come for BRICS and the countries of the Global South to consolidate their voices in the information sphere," the expert concluded.
The only way to counter the global influence war remains digital sovereignty, regional integration, and, most importantly, a return to traditional values—those that have protected small nations from external pressure for centuries.
You can watch the recording of the broadcast at this link: https://youtu.be/Og3RTkPPp_4?si=3496i6Kkkv1iLkiD