Using Social Influence Theory to Increase the Effectiveness of Influence Operations

Abstract

Since its inception in 2001, the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) has been a geographically limited force addressing a problem that is not geographically constrained. Initially, ISAF operations were limited to Kabul, Afghanistan. In 2003, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution, UNSCR 1510, that expanded the ISAF mandate from Kabul throughout Afghanistan, but did not provide for operations external to Afghanistan. Recognition of Afghanistan's border as a constraint on operations by the ISAF has provided a logistical and operational safe haven for insurgent Taliban forces and their allies, who are working against security and stability in Afghanistan. Social influence operations provide a method for ISAF-contributing nations to use their relationships and nonkinetic operations to influence Taliban decision makers and to constrain Taliban resource providers located outside of Afghanistan. The design of a social influence operation requires consideration of the cultural and moral characteristics of the target population to maximize the effectiveness of the chosen social influence techniques. The cultural characteristics developed by Geert Hofstede and refined by the GLOBE project provide a cultural framework for analyzing the culture of a target population. Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development provides a moral framework for analyzing the spectrum of moral development in a target population. Bertram Raven's levers of social influence as bases of power provide the structural framework for developing an influence strategy. When designing social influence operations, the integration of cultural and moral characteristics can maximize the effects on specific target populations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA561112

Entities

People

  • Barrett A. Burns

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combat Operations
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of Defense
  • Families (Human)
  • Governments
  • Human Development
  • Information Operations
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Psychology
  • Security
  • Societies
  • United Nations
  • United States
  • Urban Areas

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.