Strategic Communication: Origins, Concepts, and Current Debates (Contemporary Military, Strategic, and Security Issues)

This book is about strategic communication. What, exactly, strategic communication is, what it includes, and what is excluded is hotly contested; discussions of possible interpretations of and definitions for strategic communication (and the implications thereof) constitute one of the core themes of the book. While what strategic communication is remains unclear to many, what is clear is that perceptions and understandings of images, policies, and actions matter, that the success of many policies is contingent on the support they receive from various populations (both foreign and domestic), and that perceptions are influenced both by what you do and what you say. These facts are particularly relevant in the realm of foreign policy, especially national-security policy. One of the greatest challenges of our time is the threat posed by violent extremism. Efforts to combat violent extremism must consider the beliefs, motives, and perceptions that predicate extremism as well as those that lead to support for violence. What is accomplished by killing or capturing the members of a terrorist network if the perceptions and beliefs that motivated the terrorists and their supporters remain to generate a similar network in its place? This book promises a set of answers to these challenges and spells out the peril that threatens if strategic communication is abandoned or done poorly. Read more... Content: Introduction : the promise and peril of strategic communication -- What is strategic communication, and what should it be? -- History of public diplomacy and strategic communication -- Who does strategic communication? -- Challenges facing U.S. strategic communication -- Improving strategic communication -- Conclusions and the way ahead. Abstract: This book is about strategic communication. What, exactly, strategic communication is, what it includes, and what is excluded is hotly contested; discussions of possible interpretations of and definitions for strategic communication (and the implications thereof) constitute one of the core themes of the book. While what strategic communication is remains unclear to many, what is clear is that perceptions and understandings of images, policies, and actions matter, that the success of many policies is contingent on the support they receive from various populations (both foreign and domestic), and that perceptions are influenced both by what you do and what you say. These facts are particularly relevant in the realm of foreign policy, especially national-security policy. One of the greatest challenges of our time is the threat posed by violent extremism. Efforts to combat violent extremism must consider the beliefs, motives, and perceptions that predicate extremism as well as those that lead to support for violence. What is accomplished by killing or capturing the members of a terrorist network if the perceptions and beliefs that motivated the terrorists and their supporters remain to generate a similar network in its place? This book promises a set of answers to these challenges and spells out the peril that threatens if strategic communication is abandoned or done poorly Strategic Communication, The Focus Of Much Heated Debate Over The Last Few Years, Is Widely Decried As An Area In Which The U.s. Government Must Improve. Unhappily, While The Need To More Effectively Harness Our Capabilities To Compete In The Struggle For Minds And Hearts Is Clear, How, Exactly, To Do That Is Not. Strategic Communication: Origins, Concepts, And Current Debates Is A Groundbreaking Study, The First Book Explicitly Focused On Strategic Communication As It Is Currently Used And Discussed In The U.s. Government. Written Specifically For Those Who Are New To Strategic Communication, This Incisive Book Clarifies The Definitional Debate, Explores The History Of The Term And Its Practice, And Embraces A Broad, Practical Definition. But That Is Only The Beginning. Moving To The Realities Of The Issue, Author Christopher Paul Reviews Dozens Of Government Reports On Strategic Communication And Public Diplomacy Released Since 2000, Examining Specific Proposals Related To Improving Strategic Communication In The U.s. Government And Explaining The Disagreements. Most Important, He Offers Consensus And Clarity For The Way Ahead, Discussing How Disparate Elements Of The Government Can Be Coordinated To Master - And Win - The 'war Of Ideas' Through Fully Integrated And Synchronized Communications And Actions.-- Publisher Description. Introduction : The Promise And Peril Of Strategic Communication -- What Is Strategic Communication, And What Should It Be? -- History Of Public Diplomacy And Strategic Communication -- Who Does Strategic Communication? -- Challenges Facing U.s. Strategic Communication -- Improving Strategic Communication -- Conclusions And The Way Ahead. Christopher Paul. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [217]-229) And Index. This volume in the Contemporary Military, Strategic, and Security Issues series presents a concise introduction to the evolution, key concepts, discourse, and future options for improved strategic communication in today's U.S. government.Strategic Communication: Origins, Concepts, and Current Debates is a groundbreaking study, the first book explicitly focused on strategic communication as it is currently used and discussed in the U.S. government. Written specifically for those who are new to strategic communication, this incisive book clarifies the definitional debate, explores the history of the term and its practice, and embraces a broad, practical definition.But that is only the beginning. Moving to the realities of the issue, author Christopher Paul reviews dozens of government reports on strategic communication and public diplomacy released since 2000, examining specific proposals related to improving strategic communication in the U.S. government and explaining the disagreements. Most important, he offers consensus and clarity for the way ahead, discussing how disparate elements of the government can be coordinated to master—and win—the'war of ideas'through fully integrated and synchronized communications and actions. This volume in the Contemporary Military, Strategic, and Security Issues series presents a concise introduction to the evolution, key concepts, discourse, and future options for improved strategic communication in today's U.S. government. Strategic Origins, Concepts, and Current Debates is a groundbreaking study, the first book explicitly focused on strategic communication as it is currently used and discussed in the U.S. government. Written specifically for those who are new to strategic communication, this incisive book clarifies the definitional debate, explores the history of the term and its practice, and embraces a broad, practical definition. But that is only the beginning. Moving to the realities of the issue, author Christopher Paul reviews dozens of government reports on strategic communication and public diplomacy released since 2000, examining specific proposals related to improving strategic communication in the U.S. government and explaining the disagreements. Most important, he offers consensus and clarity for the way ahead, discussing how disparate elements of the government can be coordinated to masterand winthe "war of ideas" through fully integrated and synchronized communications and actions.