Perception of Fifth Generation Warfare Among Social Media Users: A Case of Punjab University Students

Abstract

Due to its colonial past, the public of Pakistan is conscious about their country’s security and sovereignty. The communication tools are now being used as a weapon in warfare. Pakistan has seen significant exposure to 5GW during the past ten years; it needs to reassess and modify its national security plan, warfare strategies, and military orientations. Conventional, irregular, combatants, civilians, cyber warfare, nanotechnology, indirect political approaches and even Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being used in 5GW. This study aims to know the perception of young educated social media users about fifth generation warfare itself and interference of international institutes/countries in 5GW. Using the survey technique, 292 responses from different departments of University of the Punjab were gathered and analyzed descriptively on SPSS in the light of Agenda setting theory. The results approved the hypothesis that university students are acquainted in some way with the notion of 5GW as well as conventional and non-conventional forms of warfare. Moreover, they also believed that powerful countries and institutes are influencing the 5GW in Pakistan.