Research Catalog

Title

The emergence of noopolitik : toward an American information strategy / John Arquilla and David Ronfeldt.

Author

Arquilla, John.

Publication

Santa Monica, CA : Rand, c1999.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• National Defense Research Institute (U.S.)
• Rand Corporation.
• Ronfeldt, David F.
• United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Description

xiii, 89 p. : ill.; 23 cm.

Summary

• Strategy, at its best, knits together ends and means, no matter how various and disparate, into a cohesive pattern. In the case of a U.S. information strategy, this requires balancing the need to guard and secure access to many informational capabilities and resources, with the opportunity to achieve national aims by fostering as much openness as practicable. The authors' term to represent such strategic balancing is "guarded openness." They go on to describe "noopolitik" (nu-oh-poh-li-teek)--an emerging form of statecraft that emphasizes the importance of sharing ideas and values globally, principally through the exercise of persuasive "soft power" rather than traditional military "hard power." This study discusses the opportunities that may be raised by the emergence of noopolitik--ranging from construction of a noosphere (a globe-spanning realm of the mind) to recommendations that, for example, the U.S. military should begin to develop its own noosphere (among and between the services, as well as with U.S. allies). In the area of international cooperation, the authors offer strategic approaches for improving the capacity of state and nonstate actors to work together to address transnational problems. In addition, the authors recommend specific doctrinal developments, implied by the emergence of information strategy--including the pressing need to deal with such ethical concerns as the first use of information.
• Weapons, concepts of proportional response, and the need to maintain the immunity of noncombatants. Ultimately, the authors call for an innovative turn of mind as policymakers and strategists rethink how best to adapt to the epochal transformations being wrought by the information revolution.

Alternative Title

Noopolitik

Subject

• Information policy > United States
• Information society
• International relations
• Telematics > Social aspects
• United States > Foreign relations > 1989-

Note

• "Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense by Rand's National Defense Research Institute."
• "MR-1033-OSD."

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-89).

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Ch. 1. Whither "Information Strategy"? -- Ch. 2. Recognition of the Noosphere -- Why "Information" Matters -- Three Concepts of Information-Based Realms -- Comparisons Lead to a Preference for the Noosphere Concept -- Emergence and Construction of the Noosphere -- Ch. 3. Emergence of Noopolitik -- Grand Strategic Shifts at the Turn of the Century -- From Realpolitik to Noopolitik -- A Comparison of the Paradigms -- Noopolitik in Theory and Practice -- Mutual Relationship Between Realpolitik and Noopolitik -- Fostering Noopolitik: Some Guidelines and Tasks -- Ch. 4. International Cooperation and Conflict -- Information Strategy and Global Cooperation -- Information Strategy in Crisis and Conflict -- Ch. 5. Moving Ahead -- A New Turn of Mind -- U.S. Hegemony Required to Consolidate the Noosphere?

ISBN

0833026984

LCCN

^^^99010120^

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library