Skip to page content

Information Operations

Featured

Information operations and warfare, also known as influence operations, includes the collection of tactical information about an adversary as well as the dissemination of propaganda in pursuit of a competitive advantage over an opponent. RAND research has enabled military leaders and policymakers to develop strategies and policy frameworks to address the challenges of these military operations.

Commentary
Stalled in Ukraine, Kremlin Increasingly Turns to Political Theater
Stymied in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has amped up the political theater to achieve his objectives. How do we interpret Putin's statements? While no nuclear threat should be ignored, Putin's pronouncements remain in the realm of propaganda.
Apr 17, 2023
Commentary
Standing Up to Kim Jong-un's Divide-and-Conquer Strategy
Kim Jong-un is frightened by even the current modest flow of information into the North. He may be prepared to reduce his provocations if those threats lead to the further spread of outside information in the North. At the very least, the ROK and the United States could try such efforts.
Jan 6, 2023

Explore Information Operations

Report
Ensuring U.S. Air Force Operations During Cyber Attacks Against Combat Support Systems: Guidance for Where to Focus Mitigation Efforts
RAND researchers developed a process for prioritizing functions and information systems in assessing mission assurance under cyber attack, a challenge due to the number of systems, range of vulnerabilities, and variety of combat support functions.
May 29, 2015
Journal Article
Prediction of Political Action by Means of Propaganda Analysis
A study to determine an opponent's initiatives through analysis of his propaganda.
May 27, 2015
Report
Assessing and Evaluating Department of Defense Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade: An Annotated Reading List
To help broaden the expertise of U.S. Department of Defense assessment personnel and stakeholders, RAND produced a reading list for self-study in best assessment practices across a range of sectors.
Apr 17, 2015
Report
DoD Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade
The U.S. Department of Defense spends more than $250 million per year on efforts to inform, influence, and persuade. How effective (and cost-effective) are they? How well do they support military objectives? How could they be improved?
Apr 17, 2015
Report
Evaluating DoD Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade
The U.S. Department of Defense has struggled to assess the progress and effectiveness of its efforts to inform, influence, and persuade audiences in support of key national security objectives. Examples of strong assessment practices across sectors—including defense, marketing, public relations, and academia—can help address these challenges.
Apr 17, 2015
Journal Article
Integrating Apples, Oranges, Pianos, Volkswagens, and Skyscrapers: On the Relationships Between Information-Related Capabilities and Other Lines of Operation
This article describes the various possible relationships between IRCs and the capabilities of other lines of operation.
Feb 17, 2015
Commentary
Why 'Big Data' Can't Find the Missing Malaysian Plane
The failure to find the missing aircraft demonstrates anew the serious gaps in data coordination and challenges public assumptions about the thoroughness and simplicity of searching the world's data for answers.
May 1, 2014
Report
Redefining Information Warfare Boundaries for an Army in a Wireless World
The U.S. Army is studying ways to apply its cyber power and is reconsidering doctrinally defined areas related to cyberspace operations. Clarifying the overlap between network and information operations and other areas could inform Army doctrine.
Jan 16, 2013
News Release
U.S. Military's Efforts to Influence Afghan Population Have Grown Less Effective Over Time
The efforts of U.S. military information operations and psychological operations in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2010 grew less successful over time, as disenchantment with foreign occupation grew.
Apr 30, 2012
Research Brief
Assessing Military Information Operations in Afghanistan, 2001–2010
This research brief offers an overview of the effectiveness of U.S. psychological operations in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2010, with particular attention to how well messages and themes were tailored to target audiences.
Apr 30, 2012
Report
U.S. Military's Efforts to Influence Afghan Population Have Grown Less Effective Over Time
The efforts of U.S. military information operations and psychological operations in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2010 grew less successful over time. The most notable shortcoming was the inability to counter the Taliban propaganda campaign against U.S. and coalition forces on the theme of civilian casualties.
Apr 30, 2012
Research Brief
Addressing Commanders' Needs for Information on
A framework for thinking about commanders' critical information needs in countersurgency operations, offering practical ways for commanders to integrate influence activities into combined arms planning and assessment.
Dec 5, 2011
Commentary
Psychological Operations by Another Name Are Sweeter
The Department of Defense has decided to change the name of military psychological operations (PSYOP) and this is a good thing, writes Christopher Paul.
Jul 29, 2010
Report
Victory Has a Thousand Fathers: Sources of Success in Counterinsurgency
Approaches to counterinsurgency from 30 recent resolved campaigns show that good counterinsurgency practices tend to
Jun 18, 2010
Report
Victory Has a Thousand Fathers: Detailed Counterinsurgency Case Studies
Narratives on the 30 most recent resolved insurgencies, covering the period 1978 to 2008, and data on 76 factors hypothesized to be related to the success of counterinsurgency forces supplement analyses of historical and contemporary insurgencies.
Jun 18, 2010
Report
Understanding Commanders' Information Needs for Influence Operations
In order to improve the effectiveness of combined arms planning and assessment operations, ground commanders need information pertaining to cultural and other
Oct 28, 2009
Report
Foundations of Effective Influence Operations: A Framework for Enhancing Army Capabilities
Aims to assist the U.S. Army in understanding
May 27, 2009
Report
Assessing Irregular Warfare: A Framework for Intelligence Analysis
An analytic framework and procedure for the intelligence analysis of irregular warfare (IW) environments that can serve as the basis for a subsequent IW intelligence analysis curriculum development effort.
Dec 11, 2008
Report
Changes Needed in Way the United States Conducts Military Interventions
In preparing for possible future military interventions, the United States needs to shift substantial resources to the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development, and military-civilian efforts must be integrated from top to bottom.
Sep 9, 2008
Report
U.S. Military Prone to Operations Not in Accord with COIN Doctrine
Similarities between the Vietnam War and current Middle East operations reveal our military is apt to engage in traditional warfare despite the more nuanced tactics called for by counter-insurgency doctrine.
May 10, 2008

Previous
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Next

RAND Topic:
Information Operations

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Natalie W. Crawford

Senior Fellow

Natalie Crawford is a senior fellow and distinguished chair in Air and Space Policy at the RAND Corporation. She is also a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She has held a number of leadership positions within RAND Project Air Force, and was vice president and director from 1997 to…
Todd C. Helmus

Senior Behavioral Scientist

Todd Helmus is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation and a nationally recognized expert on disinformation and violent extremism. He specializes in the use of data and evidence-based strategies to understand and counter disinformation and extremism. He has studied the…

Explore Our People »