Smartness under siege: Moldovan society in the age of disinformation

Abstract

This paper examines Moldovan society in the age of disinformation, with the primary objective of analyzing how false narratives and manipulative media strategies undermine the development of a smart, critically engaged, and resilient citizenry. The study assesses Moldova’s capacity to respond to disinformation and identifies the educational, social, and security dimensions necessary to strengthen cognitive resilience. Building on prior work in media literacy, cognitive security, and inclusive education, the paper engages with current debates on smart citizenship and democratic resilience, emphasizing the importance of creativity, critical thinking, and inclusivity in countering manipulative information flows. The research adopts a case study approach focused on the Republic of Moldova during recent elections, combining discourse analysis with civil society investigations to reveal both domestic and foreign disinformation practices, as well as the national responses aimed at combating them. Findings indicate significant vulnerabilities among Moldovan citizens, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, where limited access to quality education and digital literacy hinders resilience. The study concludes that current policies and tools, constrained by the country’s limited financial resources, weaken Moldova’s ability to effectively counter disinformation. The implications of this research extend to scholars of information warfare, policymakers designing national security strategies, and practitioners developing civic education programs. The key value of the paper lies in its integration of the concept of smartness with the contemporary challenges of disinformation, offering an original, context-specific analysis of Moldova while contributing to broader discussions on cognitive security in small and vulnerable democracies.