Competing and Winning: A Framework to Conduct Information Operations in the Gray Zone

Abstract

Over the last two decades, Chinas continued exploitation of the space between competition and conflict, known as the gray zone, threatens international order and the rule of law. Although addressing China's malign activities in the gray zone will require an interagency approach, the U.S. military can leverage information operations to identify, expose, and counter Chinese gray zone actions. While the DoD lacks a gray zone doctrine and strategy, this paper utilizes existing joint doctrine to provide a framework for the joint staff to conduct information operations against Chinese gray zone activities. By establishing lines of effort based on Chinese gray zone trends, conceptualizing the information environment, identifying target audiences, and applying information-related capabilities, the joint staff gains an initial planning construct to integrate information operations with other gray zone military operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 08, 2022
Accession Number
AD1184005

Entities

People

  • Spencer W Schardein

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Department Of Defense
  • Doctrine
  • Governments
  • Gray Zone
  • Information Operations
  • Information Warfare
  • International Law
  • Maritime Security
  • Military Information Support Operations
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Schools
  • Security
  • Space Force
  • Standards
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Marine Ecological Systems Migration
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space