The Strength of Weakness: Weaponized Information

The Russian Federation has recently implemented a foreign policy strategy aimed at subverting the West’s ability to deter Russia from destabilizing its neighbors. This strategy combines elements of conventional military strategy with “weaponized information” in order to achieve success in the political and military arenas of conflict. “Weaponized Information” goes beyond the “network-centric” warfare envisioned by cyber security experts, focused instead upon the development of “fake news,” disinformation, and encouraging conflicting media narratives. This thesis explores this strategy through Thomas Schelling’s framework of deterrence elucidated in Arms and Influence and uses recent events in Ukraine, Syria, the United States, and Europe to describe the development and implementation of “weaponized information” in 21st Century international conflicts.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Political Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Thomas, Raymond Christopher

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Weisband, Edward

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Nelson, Scott G.
• Luke, Timothy W.

• Deterrence
• Weaponized Information
• Information Warfare
• Ukraine
• Russia
• United States
• Foreign Policy
• Fake News
• Hybrid Warfare

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:11705

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/77694