Influence Warfare: Recent Episodes
howardgambrillclark
Educational podcasts for the strategist. The views expressed on these podcasts are Dr. Howard Gambrill Clark’s personal views alone. The views and findings do not imply endorsement by any government or private entity. Nothing in these podcasts represent the views of any government or government-affiliated organization, private corporation, university, college, school, institution, or other entity foreign or domestic, private or public.
These podcasts are required listening. They do not replace a lecture, plenary, or seminar. They are in lieu of additional required reading to save you time. Please stream or download anytime. Any issues, please email Howard Clark at CIC.
This particular podcast introduces SLFC13-15, with an emphasis on SLFC13.
Intro (0:00)
Definitions (1:42)
Preparation for SSS10 Exercise (3:00)
Hacking the Mind and Beyond (16:32)
Last part is a refresher for INW students -- consonance and resonance, but for this course applying to missions intending to deceive, persuade, inform.
0:00 - limits of analysis of social media opinions
4:00 - limits of blind disinformation to affect the mind
8:54 - five new pillars of disinformation:
1) engage prefrontal cortex as little as possible
2) master platforms
3) exploit conspiracy-theory phenomena
4) target subconscious
5) target limbic system (especially outrage and trust)
Consonance: Identify stabilizing civil-society/governance networks whose goals are in consonance with those of the United States.
Resonance: Subtly/silently/invisibly/distantly enable/leverage/strengthen/amplify consonant networks.
- Reflexive control: Influence an adversary to want to make decisions designed by the protagonist--without adversary being aware of manipulation.
- Zugzwang: German. Zug: to move. Zwang: compulsion. Compel a target's countermove that will weaken the target's position (target subverts itself).
- Telemachus: Greek. Warfare from afar--conducting influence from another country or continent.
- Slow burn: Thousand subtle pricks. Each disparate tactic is indirect, subtle, unthreatening--unlikely raise alarms. In its totality, there are eventually strategic effects.
- Stealth/deception: Because influence is by definition indirect and insensible, deception and stealth are often vital to successful influence.
Subjects covered:
1) first and flood
2) 'dietrologia' (Italian for search for forces behind events--also further reflects on 'saudade' from last week)
3) 'glasnost'
4) trust building
5) visa programs (for subtle amplification and growing of followers of fellow-traveler influencers)
6) trust warfare (science and medicine)
7) astroturfing
8) entryism (in reference to a so-called supposed Trotskyism tactic)
9) induce reckless success (stretch the enemy thin through false narratives that they are 'doing' better than they actually are)
10) weaponized translation (to better reach audiences in authoritarian states, sometimes)
00:00 – background/context
06:58 – definitions
08:16 – preparation for case study for THE OPPRESSED – FIFTH COLUMNS
21:52 – HACKING THE MIND
20 minutes. Spent the morning editing it down. As always this podcast acts as if it were a reading--general preparation for seminar discussion/exercise.
LLOs, panel in plenary. First two readings and video introduced at beginning. Attila the Hun reading analyzed, from one perspective, at the end of the podcast.
INW11: LLOs, discussions in seminar. Popular media gives a false impression that everyone has a 'good' and valid opinion on most things. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most people don't have an opinion on most things. And professed opinions rarely reflect actual belief.
40 minutes. Re-cut, re-mastered 'director's cut' for fall 2021.
- Refers to INW3 (networks and narratives) several times.
- And refers briefly once to a supplementary reading by E.B. Boyd (NOT REQUIRED reading and hopefully you can get the gist from the podcast).
- The bell curve described is different than Simon Sinek's bell curve (the youtube video for INW6) on early adopters. These are different phenomena, but we can compare or combine them in seminar if you wish.
For Influence Warfare lesson two. LLOs and case studies in seminar. (If you'd like a better look at the image/meme...not required...please save to your device and then open.)
Ms. Amanda Nimmer joined Quantum in 2009 and is currently the Director of US Business at Quantum Communications, where she directs the development and implementation of all management aspects of projects for US-based clients.
Nimmer has nearly 15 years of experience working on communications projects in the Middle East and is based between Washington, DC and Beirut. She has developed and managed some of Quantum’s largest projects to date and has extensive experience in business planning covering tv, radio, print and digital.
http://www.quantum.com.lb/
amanda.nimmer@quantumcomusa.com
Emilia Lahti (MSc, MAPP) is an international presenter on topics related to positive psychology, courage, leadership, and inner strength.
Currently, Emilia is finishing her Ph.D. dissertation for the Helsinki based Aalto University School of Science and Technology in which she is pioneering the research on the ancient Finnish construct of 'sisu,' denoting courage and determination in the face of adversity and the ability to unlock latent inner strength. Her work has been featured by The New Yorker, Business Insider, Scientific American, BBC, and Forbes among others. Emilia has given talks at Fortune500 companies, social media companies, universities, and more.
About Ms. Lahti:
https://www.emilialahti.com
https://www.emilialahti.com/emilia-lahti
Paper mentioned in podcast:
Lahti, E., (2019). Embodied fortitude: An introduction to the Finnish construct of sisu. International Journal of Wellbeing, 9(1), 61-82. doi:10.5502/ijw.v9i1.672
https://12bdb885-0c35-5bc9-de68-60b4eea95939.filesusr.com/ugd/de6a2f_a296ed09f8a8425e848f5cd47ce981e4.pdf
Emilia's TEDx talk:
https://youtu.be/UTIizGyf5kU
Dr. Arturo Muñoz is one of the world’s and one of history’s (a living influential legend and continued strategic thought leader) foremost experts on insurgency and counterinsurgency.
In this rare interview, Dr. Muñoz provides practical, actionable, and intrepid recommendations on information/psychological operations and warfare, strategic communications, and influence in guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency. Advice for every warfighter and national security professional.
Background on Dr. Arturo Muñoz:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arturo_Muñoz_(intelligence)
https://www.rand.org/pubs/authors/m/munoz_arturo.html
http://www.tribalanalysiscenter.com/board.html
Some of the best suggestions and advice on information and influence for all strategic leaders and warfighters.
Bio: https://www.state.gov/biographies/vivan-walker/
Contact: walkervs@state.gov
Javed Ali has led an intrepid career. DIA, DHS, FBI, ODNI, NCTC, and NSC...just a few places he's held analytic and senior positions.
The first half of the podcast is on intelligence. The second half is on domestic violent extremism.
I was unable to completely edit out the clicking sounds. That is on me and no fault of Javed. Appreciate your patience as I learn new editing and interviewing techniques.
bio: https://fordschool.umich.edu/faculty/javed-ali
Javed's podcast: https://burnbagpod.com/
contact info: alimust@umich.edu
An introduction to lesson 6. And prelude to lessons 7 and 8. LLOs and panel in plenary.
Quotes and summarizes ideas and texts from multiple authors. LLOs, context, discussions in seminar.
LLOs, context, debate, narrative (to higher and to operators) best practices in seminar.
This includes SLFC lesson 18's main plenary points. The podcast does not include the introductory material to lessons 18 - 25 writ large nor the specific case studies which will be used in plenary.