Modern Public Diplomacy as a Future Military Function
Abstract
Modern public diplomacy is a function that the military must regularly perform to favorably shape future conflict. At its core, public diplomacy is negotiation. However, modern public diplomacy has changed the conduct of the negotiation so that it more closely resembles conflict. In this form, public diplomacy serves dual purposes; it can act as a negotiating tool or as a means to wage unconventional warfare. The public information environment reinforces public diplomacy's nature and shapes its conduct. Four factors dominate this environment: culture, technology, volume, and speed. The military is an effective instrument to conduct modern public diplomacy, but it possess limited capability to do so. Through interagency cooperation and the development of organic capabilities, the military can establish a public diplomacy strategy that drives operational and tactical goals. Future military operations can then incorporate public diplomacy objectives. The military must first understand how modern public diplomacy affects the battlespace. It must then garner the political and military support necessary for institutional change and advocate for legislation or an interagency agreement that achieves greater unity of effort for national public diplomacy goals. Lastly, it must invest in public diplomacy capabilities in force structure, training and education, and equipment to achieve public diplomacy objectives as part of its military operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA508435
Entities
People
- Thomas E. Grattan
Organizations
- Marine Corps University