Syllabi for Psyop/Info Op/Propaganda courses

[outsidecenter]

Hello -

Are any of you aware of syllabi for Psyop/Info Op/Propaganda courses? Something that covers the history of the discipline, case studies, methods, etc?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

OC

[Jedburgh]

It is not good form to have your very first post an RFI - especially when you have not bothered to fill out any information on your profile. Although you did take the time to upload a cool avatar.

You could also take a moment to introduce yourself in the approrpriate sub-forum (http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33).

Like in real life, people are more willing to collaborate when they know who they're dealing with.

[outsidecenter]

I just assumed none of you would have the slightest interest in knowing anything about me. But, you're absolutely right - so, following your direction, I have taken a moment to introduce myself in the appropriate sub-forum.

And just so it doesn't appear that I am all take and no give, here are some materials I have come across:

http://ispp.org/syllabi/Schildkraut_PoliticalPsychology.pdf

http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/papers/vf01.cfm?folder=25&outfit=pmt

[selil]

You linked Psyop/Info Op/Propaganda as if they're one idea. I think they're pretty much different concepts.

Is you're looking for curriculua in this are I don't have anything done right this minute, but I'm working on a seminar course dealing with Information Operations (netwar e.g. Arquila and Ronsfeldt). We'll be looking at Swarm and a few of the case studies that are out there.

This is to balance another seminar course on cyber wafare (kintetic effect through computers). These are senior undergraduate, graduate courses based on a full semester model. Of course you're likely looking for something to build your own course for teaching at a school. I'm currently working on a deal so I can give away my course materials (fed subsidy) so all is not lost.

[outsidecenter]

You linked Psyop/Info Op/Propaganda as if they're one idea. I think they're pretty much different concepts.

Sorry - no, it wasn't my intention to suggest that they are one idea. I agree they are different concepts.

While a longer term objective might be to put together a syllabus for a course, in the immediate term, I am most interested in assembling structured reading lists, starting with introductory materials, then more advanced materials on individual topics. There is such a wealth of information out there but it is difficult to ascertain where to start, who to read, and the best path for someone to become knowledgeable on these topics. My thinking was that course syllabi might be the best place to start. The goal would be to develop an open-source reading plan for someone needing to be brought up to speed on the methods behind influence campaigns (i.e., how to change perceptions that create the attitudes that lead to undesirable behaviors) and provide case study examples.

Once assembled, I would of course share this reading list with the group so that all might benefit.

There is a good article by Richards Heuer entitled "Assessing Soviet Influence Operations" that I have that I think could serve as the basis of the primer section of the list. I'm happy to email it if anyone is interested.

[Hardrockxo]

OC - I am an active PSYOP Officer, what type of course are you trying to develop - I might be willing to help. Thanks,

Hardrockxo

[marct]

You may want to check out Randal Marlin's course on Truth and Propaganda (http://http-server.carleton.ca/%7Ermarlin/) at Carleton U. It's a 2nd year undergrad course, but he has one of the most extensive bibliographies on Propaganda ever constructed and may be willing to share it with you. Part of the bibliography is posted here (http://http-server.carleton.ca/%7Ermarlin/outline.html).

Marc

[outsidecenter]

OC - I am an active PSYOP Officer, what type of course are you trying to develop - I might be willing to help. Thanks,

Hardrockxo

Hardrockxo -

Thanks for your message. I am very much a novice in the discipline but have been tasked with assembling a reading list for other novices to quickly get up to speed on the theories and concepts of influence operations. As a starting point, I should probably assemble the refs and defs for such a selection of literature as I am certain I do not understand the differences between all of the terminology.

My first stab at an outline for such a course would look something like this:

I. Refs and Defs

II. Fundamentals of Persuasion and Influence (encompassing fundamentals from cognitive and social psychology)

III. Fundamentals of Communication

III. Overt Communications

IV. Covert Communications

V. Case Studies

[outsidecenter]

You may want to check out Randal Marlin's course on Truth and Propaganda (http://http-server.carleton.ca/%7Ermarlin/) at Carleton U. It's a 2nd year undergrad course, but he has one of the most extensive bibliographies on Propaganda ever constructed and may be willing to share it with you. Part of the bibliography is posted here (http://http-server.carleton.ca/%7Ermarlin/outline.html).

Marc

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

[Schmedlap]

You may want to check out the website for the 1st Information Operations Command: https://www.1stiocmd.army.mil/

You'll need your CAC card and reader.

[outsidecenter]

You may want to check out the website for the 1st Information Operations Command: https://www.1stiocmd.army.mil/

You'll need your CAC card and reader.

Thanks. Do you think the same information can be accessed over JWICS?

[Schmedlap]

You'd have to ask the folks who run the website. I've never used JWICS.

[BRTango]

Thanks. Do you think the same information can be accessed over JWICS?

The 1st IO Command SIPR website is very useful. The unclass side not so much. They may have developed their JWICS side since I was last on it, but I haven't seen it in some time. Previously however, it wasn't very useful for anything other than 1st IOC specific operational stuff.

What you want to look at is the IO-Tool box (on SIPRNET), its mostly unclass stuff, some FOUO and a few secret level items. This tool box has several sub categories, many of which should meet your needs. It contains doctrine, templates, white papers, and I believe some reading lists.

BRTango

[outsidecenter]

The 1st IO Command SIPR website is very useful. The unclass side not so much. They may have developed their JWICS side since I was last on it, but I haven't seen it in some time. Previously however, it wasn't very useful for anything other than 1st IOC specific operational stuff.

What you want to look at is the IO-Tool box (on SIPRNET), its mostly unclass stuff, some FOUO and a few secret level items. This tool box has several sub categories, many of which should meet your needs. It contains doctrine, templates, white papers, and I believe some reading lists.

BRTango

Thank you. I've begun to collect quite an array of materials. The commercial sector marketing materials have been particularly enlightening. The end product will likely be a combination of commercial and non-commercial materials.

[Adrian]

Thank you. I've begun to collect quite an array of materials. The commercial sector marketing materials have been particularly enlightening. The end product will likely be a combination of commercial and non-commercial materials.
You might link the commercial and non-commercial stuff by using RAND's "Enlisting Madison Avenue".

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG607/

[outsidecenter]

You might link the commercial and non-commercial stuff by using RAND's "Enlisting Madison Avenue".

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG607/

Thank you. That will be one of the sources.

[Spud]

My apologies for dragging out an old thread ... I just found the forum

Outsidecenter you could do a lot worse than checking out some of Prof Phil Taylor's course at Leeds Uni in the UK. The uni offers a Masters of International Communications that includes electives on propaganda and persuasion among others.

Prof Taylor also hosts his own site as a central resource for all things Stratcom/IO/Psyop

http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/papers/index.cfm?outfit=pmt

Unfortunately I can't convince my boss to give me a year's accompanied long-term schooling in the UK to do the course :wry: