WikiLeaks game can turn Kremlin fortress into glass house

by J Michael Waller / Forbes / August 16, 2016. For the first time since the 1950s, Russian subversion of the American political process has become a presidential campaign issue. The Kremlin’s latest act of espionage-driven propaganda–document dump of Democratic National Committee emails via WikiLeaks–achieved its desired effect of immediate politicization. We should step back to learn two … Read more

Launching NATO’s new strategic communications journal

We just launched NATO’s new Defence Strategic Communications journal, a publication of the alliance’s new STRATCOM Centre of Excellence in Riga, Latvia. Our first editorial board meeting occurred during the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence, with the participation of civilian and military leaders from the entire NATO alliance and interested countries like Finland and … Read more

Psychological strategy presentation at Westminster Institute

After a decade of war, with many military victories to its credit, the United States continues to struggle with defining and combating ideological adversaries. It has been unable to dominate the psychological battlespace in which America’s enemies – both those practicing violence and those not presently violent – flourish. Dr. Waller outlines a strategic solution … Read more

Strategic Influence: Public diplomacy, counterpropaganda & political warfare

Strategic Influence is the work of 13 scholars and practitioners in the fields of public diplomacy, counterpropaganda and political warfare. The book surveys the subjects from the American Revolution, through the Cold War, to present-day wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We strove to make the book the best single volume on the subject. It’s a combination … Read more

Founding Political Warfare Documents of the United States

by J. Michael Waller, editor (IWP/Crossbow Books, 2010/2011), 367 pp. Download PDF of full text here: Founding Political Warfare Docs 3 Public diplomacy and political warfare have been an American tradition since before the founding of the republic. The Continental Congress made its case to the world when it was founded in 1774. In this course … Read more

Strategic global influence for the United States (House, 2010)

Testimony of J. Michael Waller, Ph.D. Annenberg Professor of International Security Affairs, Institute of World Politics; Vice President for Information Operations, Center for Security Policy Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight March 4, 2010 Introduction Chairman Carnahan, Congressman Rohrabacher and other members of the panel, I … Read more

Getting serious about strategic influence

By J Michael Waller / Journal of International Security Affairs / December 2009. A decade has passed since the Clinton administration and the late Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) joined hands in destroying America’s public diplomacy machinery. The shocking development occurred for a combination of reasons: a turf-conscious State Department that wanted total control of public diplomacy … Read more

Fighting the War of Ideas like a Real War

This ground-breaking monograph by J Michael Waller departs from the conventional view of public diplomacy and international communication in time of war and argues for deploying messages as weapons of attack against the terrorists and other extremists. Proposing an immediate-term strategy that requires no bureaucratic reorganization or major budgetary changes, Fighting the War of Ideas like … Read more

The American way of propaganda: Lessons from the founding fathers

by J. Michael Waller, Public Diplomacy and Political Warfare White Paper No. 1, The Institute of World Politics, 2006. This article is the first in a series of White Papers about the transformation of American public diplomacy and strategic communication. Introduction One of the most contentious debates in the war on terrorism centers on the “hearts … Read more

Larry, Curly and Osama: Killing the enemy by ridicule

by J Michael Waller / Los Angeles Times / May 21, 2006.  The piece, titled in the print edition as “Larry, Curly and Osama,” appears online as “Larry, Curly and Musab.” OSAMA BIN LADEN says he doesn’t fear dying. He says he fears being humiliated. So let’s give it to him. Bin Laden and others have thrived on … Read more