Containment 2.0: U.S. political warfare

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dc.contributor.advisorRothstein, Hy
dc.contributor.authorAlexander, Nicole M.
dc.contributor.departmentDefense Analysis (DA)
dc.contributor.secondreaderAdame, Laura
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-09T00:02:58Z
dc.date.available2017-02-09T00:02:58Z
dc.date.issued2016-12
dc.description.abstractContemporary Russia has shown an increasing preference for using Cold War–era political warfare techniques, which are deeply rooted in its doctrine and foreign policies. To date, the U.S. response comprises the conventional military aspects of the Cold War–era deterrence and containment rather than political warfare strategies. Exploring previous U.S. experience in political warfare activities—under the broad categories of strategic influence, support to political, social, and counter-government groups, and special warfare—provides insight into determining a contemporary political warfare strategy. This thesis tests three hypotheses regarding U.S. political warfare experience during the Cold War. The exploration of these hypotheses shows that a strategic influence narrative centered on a full and fair strategy may produce better results rather than one centered on delegitimizing the enemy. Additionally, it was found that the United States should continue to support political, social, and counter-government groups, but should also take into consideration the type of support being provided while ensuring the group already has certain characteristics and enjoys public support. Finally, Cold War experience indicates that special warfare has the capacity to support and synchronize interagency political warfare activities. This analysis illuminates a path forward for a comprehensive political warfare policy to counter a reinvigorated Russian political warfare strategy.en_US
dc.description.distributionstatementApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
dc.description.serviceMajor, United States Armyen_US
dc.description.urihttp://archive.org/details/containmentuspol1094551655
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10945/51655
dc.publisherMonterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
dc.rightsThis publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.en_US
dc.subject.authorpolitical warfareen_US
dc.subject.authorcontainmenten_US
dc.subject.authordeterrenceen_US
dc.subject.authorRussiaen_US
dc.subject.authorUnited Statesen_US
dc.subject.authorcovert actionen_US
dc.subject.authorspecial warfareen_US
dc.subject.authorstrategic influenceen_US
dc.subject.authorpolicyen_US
dc.subject.authordemocracy assistanceen_US
dc.titleContainment 2.0: U.S. political warfareen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dspace.entity.typePublication
etd.thesisdegree.disciplineInformation Strategy and Political Warfareen_US
etd.thesisdegree.grantorNaval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
etd.thesisdegree.levelMastersen_US
etd.thesisdegree.nameMaster of Science in Information Strategy and Political Warfareen_US
relation.isDepartmentOfPublicationd520348a-01c0-444b-9538-481e17b91feb
relation.isDepartmentOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryd520348a-01c0-444b-9538-481e17b91feb
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