This bias stems from centuries of warfare taking a particular form, similar to how people once couldn't conceive of light without fire until electricity was invented.

Redefining War

At its core, war is conflict where parties use tools to increase their power and achieve outcomes that oppose others' interests.

Think strategically about modern warfare: what would be the most effective weapons and tactics today? The answer is that physical violence — while still available as a tool — is no longer the smartest or most effective approach.

Modern Warfare Arsenal

Today's war employs sophisticated, often invisible weapons including. Here is a list to consider. Think about experiences you've been having and consider where these have been used against you.

Information warfare: Cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, flooding people with conflicting information to create confusion and cognitive dissonance.

Economic weapons: Sanctions, cryptocurrency manipulation, making populations dependent on controlled resources.

Political subversion: Election interference, undermining government legitimacy, bribing officials and influencers.

Psychological operations: Creating crises then positioning as the savior, exploiting social media platforms that control public discourse.

Biological and resource warfare: Famine, deprivation disguised as natural events.

Social manipulation: Fueling ideological divides, inflaming nationalism, targeting masculinity to prevent resistance.