Ian Whitfield
Throughout history, information has been integral in shaping the outcomes of competition and conflict. From Alexander the Great's calculated propaganda campaigns to the Phoenix Program in the Vietnam War, these examples underscore the timeless power of information as a tool of strategy. Such operations are designed to exploit the “fog", the uncertainty and confusion that clouds decision-making, and " friction", the unpredictable and disruptive elements that impede even the best-laid plans, inherent in competition and conflict.
The United States has wielded information throughout history to achieve strategic objectives. During World War II, the Office of War Information (OWI) played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and controlling the flow of information. Utilizing radio broadcasts, films, posters, and print media, OWI rallied domestic support and crafted and managed narratives that emphasized the United States’ role in defending democratic values and highlighted the moral struggle against fascism. By coordinating informational activities across government agencies, OWI ensured a consistent and accurate flow of information on the Homefront, avoiding war fatigue and turning the U.S. into the Arsenal of Democracy. During the Cold War, the United States Information Agency (USIA) expanded the scope of information operations overseas. Through academic exchanges, international broadcasting, English language programs, and curated policy messaging, USIA sought to break through the informational iron curtain authoritarianism used to insulate itself from democratic values. In both cases, these agencies demonstrated the power of strategic communication campaigns, contextually relevant messages tailored to their target audiences, which aligned with the national interest at the time, and the spread of democratic values.
These historical examples of using information to shape perceptions highlight an area the United States is severely lacking: strategic communications. This is the deliberate curation (the action of collecting and presenting information in a truthful manner like white propaganda, versus the creation of manipulated or false narratives, like black propaganda) of actions, messages, signals, and engagements to harmonize the disparate efforts of government by utilizing all levers of national power to inform, influence, or persuade target audiences in support of the nation’s strategy. Unlike ad hoc or isolated information campaigns, strategic communications require a unified voice that integrates policy objectives with targeted messaging to ensure consistency and credibility.
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