THE POWER OF THE MASS MEDIA IN MODERN POLITICS AND WAGING POLITICAL WARFARE THROUGH THE MEDIA

Abstract

This article is primarily theoretical and review-oriented. Its main objective is to identify key concepts related to hybrid warfare and the role of media and the internet in a complex and dynamically evolving international environment. Through a critical analysis of scholarly literature, strategic documents, and legal frameworks, it applies an interdisciplinary approach incorporating methods of analysis, synthesis, and desk research. No empirical studies are presented; instead, examples are used to illustrate hybrid influence operations. The central research question is: What are the characteristics of hybrid warfare in the 21st century? Although mass media are often considered powerful and destructive, this paper argues that their effects are often mediated by stronger factors such as political values, social networks, and low public trust in the media.