Cultural and Social Grounds in Soft War

If the main arguments on soft war involve bringing transformation in societies with an emphasis on changing attitudes and viewpoints held by people and those who govern, then such a war will display a new series of actions and reactions on the part of states to dominate different countries, since domination is developed by definitions of power, where power is defined as the ability to concentrate, organize and conduct behavior. Soft war is a war short of bloodshed which is based on cultural and social alternatives, for in such a process the invading countries will avail themselves of intimidation and cultural and social crises to impose their power as well as culture on the target community by bringing a humiliating shock to bear on it. In such a war, cultural beliefs and sacred ways of societies are attacked where the West culture or what is called the American style of life is imposed on peoples via various ways. In reality, instead of military operations, this war sets out to engineer the cultural and social crises for the target society so as to destabilize and disarticulate the individuals’ mental perception of the norms, and of the values held by the individuals and their societies, and to make them easily accept any incoming belief. Generally, this war tries to promote the Western prevailing culture, and prevent the growth of powerful and original cultures like the Islamic culture. Gradual transformation, subversion and destabilization are the main objectives of soft war that enemies and those who organize this war endeavor to achieve through propaganda and media. This writing addresses the concept, objectives, incentives, methods, and the cultural and social means of soft war.