political warfare

Political warfare is the use of political means to achieve strategic objectives that might otherwise require military force.

It encompasses propaganda, psychological operations, covert support for allied factions, economic pressure, and diplomatic maneuvering—all short of open combat.

The term implies coordinated, aggressive action: The Cold War was fought largely through political warfare rather than direct military engagement.

Distinguished from conventional diplomacy by its adversarial intent and willingness to use deception.