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Information Operations

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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.

Report
Russia's Evolving Use of Information Confrontation
Information confrontation is the use of offensive or defensive informational means to achieve political, economic, or military objectives. Russian strategy likens information weapons with weapons of mass destruction since both have the potential to reshape the international system. The Ukraine experience offers insights into Russia's tactics.
Aug 18, 2022
Commentary
Could K-Pop Help Deter Kim Jong-un's Provocations?
The United States and Republic of Korea could be more specific and creative in seeking to deter Kim Jong-un. The global popularity of K-Pop could be part of the strategy.
Oct 11, 2022

Explore Information Operations

Report
Assessing and Evaluating Department of Defense Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade: Worked Example
This report presents a realistic but fictional scenario as context for how assessment planning for inform, influence, and persuade efforts should work in practice, demonstrating core principles and best practices for developing effective assessments.
Mar 22, 2017
Report
The Potential for Russian Hybrid Warfare in the Baltics
Russia would likely have trouble using nonviolent tactics to destabilize the Baltics. Covert violent action is also unlikely to succeed on its own. Thus, the Baltics' main vulnerability is Russia's local superiority in conventional forces.
Feb 23, 2017
Journal Article
On Strategic Communications Today: Enhancing US Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade
Capabilities to inform, influence, and persuade are necessary both for national security success and as a cost-effective toolset relative to physical military power.
Dec 14, 2016
Blog
Insights on the Russian 'Firehose of Falsehood'
A massive, ingenious, and concerning campaign of propaganda has been pumping westward for years, supporting the Russian agenda in Ukraine and Syria and likely trying to influence the U.S. presidential election.
Dec 13, 2016
Commentary
Russian Propaganda Is Pervasive, and America Is Behind the Power Curve in Countering It
Even as Washington pursues cooperation with Moscow on Syria and other issues, America should expose Russia's obsession with propaganda and disinformation.
Sep 12, 2016
Report
Russia's “Firehose of Falsehood” Propaganda Model
Russia's propaganda model is high-volume and multichannel, and it disseminates messages without regard for the truth. It is rapid, continuous, and repetitive, and it does not commit to consistency.
Jul 11, 2016
Report
China's Evolving Approach to Strategic Deterrence May Prove Challenging to the U.S. and Its Allies
China is rapidly closing what was once a substantial gap between the PLA's strategic weapons capabilities and its strategic deterrence concepts. The United States will likely need to assure its allies that it will continue to maintain the capability and the resolve to support them in a crisis.
Apr 7, 2016
Commentary
Inciting Peace: Elevating Alternatives to ISIL's Message
Malicious ideas, ideologies, and narratives (such as those promoted by ISIL) cannot just be eliminated — they need to be replaced.
Mar 30, 2016
Report
Unconventional Options for the Defense of the Baltic States
Unconventional options from the Swiss defense strategy during the Cold War could benefit Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These include training and equipping local defense units and preparing transportation infrastructure for demolition to prevent an invasion.
Feb 5, 2016
Report
An Update on Information Operations in Afghanistan
As the United States looks to further reduce its military footprint in Afghanistan, the need for harmonized information operations doctrine that supports effective operations in the field — as well as the measures with which to gauge their effectiveness — is even greater.
Aug 28, 2015
Commentary
Loose Clicks Sink Ships: When Social Media Meets Military Intelligence
Social media updates can reveal military intelligence. But stopping a soldier from posting a geotagged tweet or Instagram photo presents challenges.
Aug 14, 2015
Journal Article
Assessing and Evaluating DoD Inform, Influence, and Persuade Efforts: Guidance for Practitioners
The Most Informative Results for DoD IIP Efforts Come from the Intersection of Academic Evaluation and Public Communications.
Jul 8, 2015
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

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RAND Topic:
Information Operations

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