noun
ideological warfare; propaganda war
Refers to conflict waged through ideas, propaganda, and information rather than physical weapons. Often used in political, historical, or media contexts.
冷戦時代、両国は激しい思想戦を繰り広げた。
During the Cold War, the two countries waged an intense ideological war.
SNSは現代の思想戦の場となっている。
Social media has become a battleground for modern propaganda wars.
心理戦 is psychological warfare targeting emotions and morale, whereas 思想戦 is about competing doctrines and worldviews.
Compound of 思想 (thought, ideology) and 戦 (war, battle). A modern term likely coined in the context of 20th-century ideological conflicts.