Changing the Narrative: Information Campaigns, Strategy and Crisis Escalation in the Digital Age

Information campaigns are used by states to change the narrative and influence public opinion, but their impact on contemporary crises is limited compared to traditional military and economic power. Sir Lawrence Freedman and Heather Williams examine the impact of state-led digital information campaigns in four contexts, calling for a sense of perspective and acknowledging the difficulty of controlling and influencing foreign audiences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 164 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Narratives play a pivotal role in shaping the narratives of conflict, often becoming arenas of conflict in themselves. When states engage in information campaigns against each other, their primary objective is to alter the prevailing narrative. In the digital age, the emergence of new information platforms has gained significant attention as a crucial factor in contemporary strategy and crisis management. While social media, characterized by its noise and chaos, offers unparalleled immediacy and accessibility, its impact on strategic affairs remains a subject of debate.

In their book, "Disinformation and State-Led Digital Information Campaigns," Sir Lawrence Freedman and Heather Williams examine the impact of state-led digital information campaigns in four distinct contexts: the India-Pakistan crisis over Kashmir in 2019, the heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in 2020, China's messaging in response to the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis from 2013 to 2023. While acknowledging the significant consequences of these campaigns, the authors emphasize the need for perspective. They argue that digital information campaigns should be viewed as part of broader political struggles and are challenging for their initiators to control. Moreover, these campaigns are less likely to influence foreign audiences compared to domestic ones.

Overall, the authors conclude that there is limited evidence to suggest that digital information campaigns will have as profound an influence on contemporary crises as traditional instruments of military and economic power. The book serves as a valuable contribution to understanding the dynamics of state-led information warfare in the digital age.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032707860