The Status of National Security in the Era of Post Truth

This is Chapter 2 (an Off Print) from Segell, Glen, (2026) "The Status of National Security in the Era of Post Truth" in NATO-EU Strategy Group (eds). Navigating Public Security in the Age of Post-Truth: Challenges and Implications. (London Security Policy Institute).

This chapter examines the plausible likelihood that the post truth environment with disinformation and misinformation signifies an escalating, authentic challenge in delineating reality, comprehending it, and consequently making sound decisions, particularly in the realm of national security. The discussion starts with the 2016 American presidential elections and the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom, followed by examples from the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. These and the theories are discussed in five sections whose headers are: Setting the scene: definitions and epistemology, Literature contestations on post truth, Discourse of post truth on democracy and national security, The cases of Gaza and Ukraine, and Does the solution rest with the intelligence agencies? The conclusions find that any initiatives to tackle the challenges are currently in their preliminary phases. Addressing the phenomena demands an interdisciplinary approach with international collaboration, and the acknowledgment that no singular solution will effectively resolve all issues.

Keywords: post truth, national security, disinformation, misinformation, mass media, social media, 2016 American Presidential Elections, United Kingdom Brexit Referendum