Date of Award

8-1-2018

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Organizational Unit

Josef Korbel School of International Studies, International Studies

First Advisor

Jonathan Adelman, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Julia Macdonald, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Elizabeth Campbell

Keywords

Information operations, Information warfare, Military theory, Russia, Strategy, War

Abstract

This thesis seeks to illuminate how information operations supports Russia’s strategy for creating power for the state. Using classic military theory and Soviet strategy as the lens, the paper examines information operations in the context of the nature of war. The examination includes historical and contemporary Russian publications on warfare, as well as information operations case studies from Eastern Europe, Georgia and Crimea. Russia’s operations are found to be consistent with a strategy of attrition. The opponent's society is the primary target of information operations. The emphasis on information operations within contemporary Russian concepts of modern war indicate that the Russian military theory establishment judge this means of war as useful and persistent. Western nations must seek to separately and holistically understand Russia's strategy and how information operations support it, as well as the role of society in the rubric of war. These elements are essential to counter Russian aggression.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Kyle I. Campbell

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

145 p.

Discipline

Military studies, Military history, Russian history

Download



Share

COinS