Sustaining Relevance - Public Affairs and Information Operations in an Era of Great Power Competition
Abstract
In an address to Air War College students and faculty, Gen. David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, challenged the assembled body to reimagine the nature of warfare, proclaiming that future wars will be one of cognition, not attrition. All warfare first begins in the mind; with thoughts influenced by political, economic, and military perceptions of both friend and foe. How those perceptions are formed is the focus of this monograph, which seeks to explore how inter- and cross-cultural communication scholarship can shape, inform, and ultimately influence allies and adversaries to perceive, act, or behave in a manner that either supports or rejects U.S. strategic objectives. Done well, a potential adversary's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors are more likely to comport with U.S. policy aims. If done poorly, the resulting actions may unspool the tightly wound national security enterprise, possibly putting Americans, and the homeland, at greater risk.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 24, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1107484
Entities
People
- Greg Hignite
Organizations
- Air War College