Is The IW Paradigm Outdated? A Discussion of U.S. IW Theory
ABSTRACT
The term information war (IW) helped describe one aspect of the unfolding revolution in military affairs in the 1990s. Today, technological developments are integrating the data processing capabilities of machines and the mind in ways not possible a decade ago. As a result, the old IW paradigm may no longer be applicable, making other potential paradigms and terms worthy of consideration. As the future unfolds, it will be interesting to see if Pentagon theorists use IW or a new term to express a threat to the security of the country, a category of warfare, a method of defense or influence, or leave the concept alone as a conceptual umbrella for a host of terms. Or, will the Pentagon simply update IW theory, perhaps developing Information Peace or Mind-Machine concepts that complement IW?
AUTHORS
Foreign Military Studies Office, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Lieutenant Colonel Timothy L. Thomas (USA Ret.) is an analyst at the Foreign Military Studies Office, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Recently he has written extensively on the Russian view of information operations and on current Russian military-political issues. During his military career he served in the 82d Airborne Division and was the Department Head of Soviet Military-Political Affairs at the US Army’s Russian Institute in Garmisch, Germany.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
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