Managing Perception: A Twenty-First Century Imperative
Abstract
The "Global War on Terrorism" (GWOT) has -- at its core -- a requirement for persuasion. The GWOT represents less a conflict against an old and proliferated tactic than a fundamental war of ideas, waged largely through regional insurgencies and fought for hearts and minds. The United States will not win this war with kinetics alone. Across this ideological divide, information, and how it is presented, has assumed a critical role as a dimension of the modern battlefield and a weapon to wield across the spectrum of conflict. In this modern fight, victory hinges largely on perception. U.S. operational commanders, extremely proficient in the application of kinetic, or "hard power," must increasingly understand and incorporate the nonkinetic elements of "soft power" to wage successful counterinsurgency warfare on information-laden, nonkinetic, 21st century battlefields. This paper examines the fight for perception on an evolving battlefield; analyzes this battlefield using the operational factors of space, time, and force; and concludes by offering operational commanders recommendations to fight and win the critical war of ideas.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 13, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA463752
Entities
People
- Michael J. Riordan
Organizations
- Naval War College