Building a Psychological Strategy for the U.S.: Leveraging the Informational Element of National Power
Abstract
The "informational" element of national power is often referred to in vague terms without association to specific overarching objectives or explicit ways or means. The other elements of national power - military, diplomatic, and economic - are guided by strategies, policies, or organizations. However, there is no overarching guidance to realize the psychological value inherent in the exercise of these elements of U.S. national power. Recognizing this deficiency, this paper argues for a psychological strategy." A national psychological strategy would require a standing bureaucracy to work with the interagency, particularly the National Security Council and the Departments of State and Defense, to develop overarching themes and messages in order to provide an informational backdrop" for all government activities affecting domestic and foreign audiences. The keys to successful implementation of a national psychological strategy are integration of public diplomacy, public affairs, international military information and coercive diplomacy, supported by the means to understand and communicate with foreign audiences and gauge both domestic and foreign reaction to U.S. plans, policies, and actions. The nation has the resources and expertise to execute an effective psychological strategy which will make the difference for the U.S. in the 21st century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 07, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA414554
Entities
People
- Stephen M. Tanous
Organizations
- United States Army War College