Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Information War?
Speaker: Peter Pomerantsev (Johns Hopkins University) Date: 30 March 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker series session with Mr. Peter Pomerantsev (Johns Hopkins University) as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Mr. Pomerantsev began by highlighting a phrase that he believes relates well to Russia’s concept of information: “The most dangerous idea in information […]
Continue ReadingMitigating Disinformation in a Contested Environment: Frontline Experience from the Western Balkans
Speaker: Mr. John Cappello (Balkan Security Network) Date: 9 March 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Mr. John Cappello (Balkan Security Network), as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Mr. Capello began his presentation by emphasizing that disinformation can be countered by “providing newsworthy quality content” and that a fact-based narrative still has […]
Continue ReadingMasspersonal Social Engineering: Manipulative Communication at the Intersections of Cyber and Information Operations
Speakers: Dr. Robert Gehl (Louisiana Tech University) and Dr. Sean Lawson (University of Utah & Marine Corps University) Date: 18 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Sean Lawson (University of Utah & Marine Corps University) and Dr. Robert Gehl (Louisiana Tech University), as a part of its SMA IIJO […]
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Disinformation and Political Warfare: Historical and Technological Insights (A Conversation with Thomas Rid)
Speaker: Dr. Thomas Rid (Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies) Date: 11 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Thomas Rid (Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies) as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Dr. Rid began by stating that that there is currently a […]
Continue Reading“Standing Under” Stories: Narrative Research Methods for Anticipatory Intelligence
Speaker: Dr. Sara Cobb (George Mason University) Date: 2 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Sara Cobb (George Mason University) as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Dr. Cobb began her presentation by acknowledging that her own work builds on and heavily references prior communication, conflict, and psychological […]
Continue ReadingInformation Warfare
Speaker: Mr. James Farwell (The Farwell Group) Date: 21 January 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Mr. James Farwell (The Farwell Group), as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Mr. Farwell’s brief focused on strategic views of information warfare and the impact that it is having. He began by stating that communication strategy and information warfare are […]
Continue ReadingWaging New Cold Wars: Gaining Advantage in Great Power Competition
Speaker: Dr. Robert Ehlers (JMark Services) Date: 22 January 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Robert Ehlers (JMark Services, Inc.), as a part of its new SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Dr. Ehlers began by presenting the six goals of his presentation: 1) To foster thinking and action for informational aspects of great power rivalry (GPR), 2) to review key […]
Continue ReadingNeglected History, Forgotten Lessons: The Struggle for Minds and Wills Relies on Leadership First, Organization Second
Speaker: Mr. Matthew Armstrong (PhD Student, Defence Studies Department, King’s College London) Date: 14 January 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Mr. Matthew Armstrong (PhD Student, Defence Studies Department, King’s College London), as a part of its new SMA Integrating Information in Joint Operations (IIJO) Speaker Series. Mr. Armstrong took a historical approach to his […]
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