Influence Warfare : How Terrorists and Governments Fight to Shape Perceptions in a War of Ideas

Perceptions frame reality. Terrorists, insurgents, and criminals have become adept at shaping perceptions among multiple audiences, using an electronic communication infrastructure to reach the global community. These groups are competing against national governments for the power to gain influence in order to achieve their strategic objectives. In this technological age, media and the internet are becoming the battlefields for modern conflicts and are the key sources in capturing a global audience. This work focuses on the core of the ongoing struggle for strategic influence, and particularly, how states can counter the role that media and the Internet play in radicalizing new agents of terrorism.In an era where anyone can have access to the Internet or other media forms, it has created communication with complete freedom. Governments no longer have a strong hold on communication, which creates challenges for filtering information and security posed by terrorists and insurgents. Terrorists, insurgents, and criminals have become adept at shaping perceptions among multiple audiences, using an electronic communication infrastructure to reach the global community. These groups are competing against national governments for the power to gain influence in order to achieve their strategic objectives. In this technological age, media and the internet are becoming the battlefields for modern conflicts and are the key sources in capturing a global audience. This work focuses on the core of the ongoing struggle for strategic influence, and particularly, how states can counter the role that media and the Internet play in radicalizing new agents of terrorism.