Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

This article focuses on describing and providing a basic overview of approaches to teaching military history at the Armed Forces Academy. Based on a content analysis of the curriculum and literature devoted to history, authors offer insight into selected approaches to teaching historical subjects. They describe three fundamental theoretical approaches through which history can be taught. They examine the differences between these approaches as well as their potential integration, which may help expand students’ ability to understand the various stages of the historical development of warfare. Authors analyze selected theoretical approaches, namely the chronological approach, the four generations of warfare approach, and the civilization waves approach. They outline their main characteristics and attributes. By combining these approaches in teaching, it is possible to help students develop a more comprehensive understanding of historical development within the process of training a professional soldier.

This paper analyses the cognitive vulnerabilities of the Slovak information environment and identifies mechanisms through which adversarial actors exploit societal fractures to undermine national strategic resilience. The research employs a theoretical-empirical analysis, integrating NATO doctrinal frameworks with psychological concepts and current sociological data on public trust in Slovakia. The findings reveal significant cognitive lability regarding strategic alignment and demonstrate how horizontal mistrust facilitates strategic paralysis. Based on these findings, the authors identify the process of the Preparation of the Population for State Defence as one of the strategic tools for building cognitive resilience. The study provides an original synthesis of cognitive warfare theory and empirical facts, establishing cognitive sovereignty as a cornerstone of modern national security.

This paper explores strategic communication as a key instrument for countering hybrid threats in contemporary democratic states. The author, drawing on conceptual analysis, policy documents and practical case studies, examines the role of strategic communication in strengthening societal resilience, shaping public narratives, and responding to information-based aggression. He defines hybrid threats as multidimensional and adaptive phenomena operating below the threshold of armed conflict, exploiting institutional, psychological and informational vulnerabilities. Simultaneously, he argues that strategic communication, when coordinated, credible and value-based, constitutes an essential component of national security policy. The analysis identifies four core functions – informational, preventive, coordinative and normative – and highlights challenges related to institutional fragmentation, analytical capacity, and ethical dilemmas. Based on the findings, the author formulates normative and practical recommendations for policymakers. He concludes that strategic communication is not only a reactive tool but also a proactive mechanism for narrative resilience and democratic integrity in the age of non-linear conflict.