THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL SECURITY

Abstract

The article investigates the transformation of information into one of the fundamental strategic resources of contemporary international relations in the 21st century, comparable in significance to military power, economic capabilities, and technological advancement. It analyzes the distinctive properties of information as a resource – its intangibility, extreme speed of dissemination, scalability, and multiplier effect – which enable it to function as a powerful instrument of soft power in peaceful contexts and as a means of indirect influence, manipulation, and destabilization of political systems in conflict environments. The study examines the mechanisms of formulating and implementing national information policy, the pivotal role of political elites, the distribution of responsibilities among branches of government, and the decisive importance of political will grounded in strategic foresight, national consciousness, and moral responsibility of leadership.

Special emphasis is placed on the historical evolution of international information policy: from its origins as a tool of ideological confrontation during the Cold War, through the explosive growth of the internet in the 1990s–2000s, to the current stage dominated by challenges of disinformation campaigns, cyber threats, and the regulation of artificial intelligence applications. The article explores core concepts such as information sovereignty, the global information order (initiated within UNESCO in the 1970s), and digital diplomacy as modern instruments for advancing national interests in the digital domain. It highlights the multilevel and networked character of contemporary information policy, shaped by the interplay of states, international organizations (UNESCO, ITU), transnational corporations, digital platforms, and opinion leaders.

The conclusions underscore the intensifying competition among divergent models of information space governance, the growing risks of fragmentation of the global information system, and the urgent need to balance the free flow of information with the protection of national sovereignty and cultural identity. For Ukraine, this domain holds existential significance amid ongoing hybrid threats, as it directly relates to safeguarding state sovereignty, preserving national identity, and maintaining international support. Future developments will depend on advancements in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, automated information dissemination systems, and the increasing influence of non-state actors, creating both new opportunities for global communication and additional risks to international security and stability.