The Information Instrument of Statecraft in a "Globalized" World
Abstract
The world is in the midst of an information revolution brought on by dizzying advances in computer and telecommunications technology. This information explosion is drawing societies closer together to the point that anyone with a computer, modem, and telephone can communicate with distant societies in a matter of minutes. Instant availability of information from around the globe presents new opportunities and challenges for American statecraft and for the instruments of policy. Information is more than raw data. For information to be useable it must be managed -- processed into something recognizable and useful for decision-making (knowledge). In the context of state-to-state and public diplomacy, knowledge is packaged and communicated between state and non-state actors as a means to achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives. Knowledge and the means to communicate that knowledge are the critical attributes of information as an instrument of statecraft. This paper will focus on how the information instrument of statecraft stands out as a powerful tool and critical component of state-to-state and public diplomacy. It will highlight characteristics of the information instrument of policy, strengths and weaknesses of the instrument, and implications for American foreign policy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 14, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA443792
Entities
People
- Leslie W. Brockman
Organizations
- National War College