Knowledge is power,” stated Sir Francis Bacon in the 15th century, then the British went on to establish a global empire. Now, in 2026, the United Kingdom’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has stated that the “lack of reading is a national security threat.” The threat is not just the lack of reading, but the lack of holistic reading.
The world of information is dominated by one-sided narratives and rhetoric. As the phrase goes around in military and strategic planning rooms, wars have become “asymmetric.” The battlefield is no longer merely conventional; civil society and its psychology are equally a new frontline.
The Chinese ancient war strategist Sun Tzu, in his phenomenal work The Art of War, provided a nuanced framework for warfare. He stated: “The main goal is to defeat the enemy without fighting, using smart planning, deception, and understanding the fault lines of society to create agitation within, instead of external force. War is a serious matter for a nation and should be approached carefully, with proper preparation and the ability to adapt, not just with brute force.”
In the contemporary world of nuclear deterrence and alliances within the nuclear umbrella, direct confrontation would mean complete annihilation. Consequently, strategists adopted restraint as the doctrine of limited warfare and actively developed the new instrument of “disinformation warfare,” now a primary tool to destabilize any state from within. Along with “hybrid warfare,” which involves economic sanctions and other economic measures leading to falling currencies and poverty, dissatisfaction spreads among civilians, and streets erupt with the goal of overthrowing the government.
Economic choking and financial crises are often orchestrated from outside the country by foreign powers, unknown to the citizens. Gradually, these measures erode stability and trust in the government, leading to anarchy. The state, already weakened, eventually collapses.
These stages mirror the French Revolution, where the economic hardships of common people in 17th-century France were due to the Bourbon monarchy’s lack of wisdom, a prolonged Seven Years’ War in North America with the British that depleted the treasury, and disregard for the well-being of the people. In the 21st century, this process has been creatively weaponized by intelligence agencies using the internet and social media. Civilians are now seen as the main agents, who, in the fervour of revolution, may unintentionally sabotage their own country.
Narrative control can offset material defeat, underscoring the importance of public domain literacy. Civilians are the new battlespace in the 21st century, civilians are no longer passive observers. They function as:
- Information carriers
- Narrative amplifiers
- Psychological terrain
Modern conflict is increasingly fought in the cognitive and informational domain, where perception often outweighs firepower. A lack of diverse, holistic reading, combined with insufficient critical thinking and understanding of national interests, leads people to prioritize narratives from news outlets, social media, and mainstream media over reasoned comprehension of government policy. This results in internal collapse without conventional enemy involvement. Techniques such as polarization, divide-and-rule strategies, and amplification of narratives via information platforms undermine national cohesion, potentially causing self-sabotage, regime change, and permanent damage to a country’s autonomy.
However, the counter-intelligence mechanisms of many states are well-developed to resist these measures. They absorb manufactured economic shocks, counter foreign media rhetoric, and neutralize narratives crafted by analysing societal fault lines. The details of these measures cannot be disclosed here for national security reasons. A strong reading culture is vital because it nurtures critical thinking and deepens comprehension beyond surface-level information. It broadens perspectives by exposing individuals to diverse ideas, histories, and worldviews. Regular reading strengthens language, communication, and analytical skills, which are essential for academic and professional growth. It fosters empathy by allowing readers to engage with experiences beyond their own. Most importantly, a strong reading culture sustains intellectual curiosity and informed citizenship.
