COMPETING IN THE SOCIAL BATTLESPACE: INFLUENCING THE THREE DOMAINS
Abstract
This study reveals the three domains all nations, organizations, and individuals use to produce theories and strategies in their pursuit to fulfill interests and the cyclical influence the Social Battlespace has on each of these domains. To see this, the author describes the three domains, the Physical, Cognitive, and Mechanical, and how they interact with one another. Next, this study shows that it is the dominant narrative within the Social Battlespace that mobilizes the domain elements into action to fulfill a narratives cause. However, with the rise of cyber and its interconnecting platforms, such as the Internet, mobile communications, and social media, the way narratives compete within the Social Battlespace is changing. No longer are narratives created and maintained by those with power and with elite status; rather, cyber is now diffusing narrative power and control to ordinary people who now have technological access. This study analyzes these ideas by using historical examples from the Cold War to show the power of the Social Battlespace. A case study on the BlackLivesMatter movement shows how the Social Battlespace is evolving the competition that is resident within this space. The implications of this study illustrate that hierarchal organizations, inherent in the U.S. government, will find it difficult to not only control a narrative in a cyber-influenced Social Battlespace, but to counter them, as well. These organizations must learn to diffuse their narrative control in order to compete in todays Social Battlespace. Failure to do so, will result in an inability to properly mobilize the three domains in their favor. Thus, a failure in strategy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1047109
Entities
People
- Bryon C Buzan
Organizations
- School of Advanced Air and Space Studies