Hybrid Threats, Cognitive Warfare, and Psychological Defence: A practitioners' toolbox for intelligence analysis and resilience-building

This toolbox consolidates key practitioner takeaways from five publications authored by members of the Hybrid Threats Research Group into a single practitioner’s toolbox for countering hybrid threats and cognitive warfare and for strengthening psychological defence and resilience. The toolbox brings together models developed and published by the group. It links short-term threat–response cycles to long-term resilience and psychological defence, and operationalises national-level psychological defence in a convenient, ready-to-use format.

First, the hybridity blizzard model depicts how the aggressor’s targeting of vulnerabilities interacts with the defender’s responses over time, situating intelligence at the interface of detection and countermeasures with resilience-building. The model also outlines responses to challenges in the contemporary operational environment, highlighting key focus areas for intelligence community actors across analysis, communication, and capability development.

 Second, the intelligence analysis interaction (hourglass) model captures three coupled processes – analysis, aggregated, tailored communication, and reception/absorption among societal actors. This model highlights bottlenecks and the need for feedback-rich, whole-of-society practice.

 Third, an analytical framework for building resilience and psychological defence countering hybrid threats and foreign influence and interference is outlined. This assess–address–evaluate framework provides a six-dimensional structure, including 1) threat assessment, 2) vulnerability assessments, 2) defence mechanisms, 3) coordination and cooperation, 4) legal/policy framework, and 5) impact and effectiveness. It guides analysis, action, and learning for psychological defence and resilience.