Military Review English Edition May-June 2016 | Page 68

globally. In one case, the Soviets
provided fake scientific informaPropaganda
tion to peace groups and others,
Analysis *
· Source
aimed at stoking fear of a “nuclear
· Content
winter” in an attempt to prevent
· Audience
· Media
the United States from putting
· Effects
Pershing II missiles in Europe.19
Content. Content analysis
reveals the message and deterCounterpropaganda
No action
New
mines the source’s motives and
Techniques *
required
information
· Direct refutation
goals for the propaganda.20 For
operations
· Indirect refutation
example, during the Cold War, the
campaign to
· Diversion
·
Silence
exploit
West learned much about Russian
· Restrictive measures
adversary
leadership and military capabilities
· Imitative deception
vulnerabilities
·
Conditioning
by observing the Soviets’ annual
· Forestalling
Red Army Day parade in Moscow.
· Minimization
Weigh:
· Risk of
Placement of an individual on the
responding
official party’s reviewing stand
· Risk of not
Does
reflected importance within the
Coordination
responding
propaganda
· Command
party. Appearance of new equip· Interest of
· Interagency
provide
audience
ment reflected a change in the Red
· Coalition
information
· News cycle
Army’s military capabilities. Such
on:
· Key leaders?
content analysis of events may
· Economy?
Employ
also provide information on mo· Intent?
counterpropaganda
· Equipment?
rale, intentions, and propaganda
· Vulnerabilities?
measure
inconsistencies.
Audience. Audience analy* Source: Army Field Manual 3-05.301, Psychological Operations Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, 2003.
sis reveals the group whom the
propagandist is attempting to
Figure. Proposed Joint Counterpropaganda
target, as well as the propagandist’s
Methodology
understanding of and expectations
for the audience.
Media. Media analysis determines why a particpropaganda analysis can provide valuable information
ular medium was selected, what are an opponent’s
regarding the adversary’s intent, capabilities, sensimedia capabilities, and how consistently it communitivities, economy, and leadership. It can also identify
cates a message.
potential vulnerabilities of the adversary for targeting
Effects. Effect analysis reveals the impact that
during future IO campaigns.
propaganda has had on the target audience. The
IO staff is given the responsibility of determining
Pros and Cons of
behavioral or attitudinal changes within the intendCounterpropaganda
ed audience and assessing the need and means to
When assessing options for dealing with adrespond, as required.
versary propaganda, the IO staff should consider
The propaganda analysis methodology found in FM all potential positive and negative consequences.
3-05.301 serves as an excellent starting point in deterResponding quickly is essential; a rapid response
mining the need for a propaganda response. It allows
provides a better chance of controlling the disthe IO staff to analyze adversary propaganda and its
cussion and the outcome by increasing the audieffect on the intended audience. Additionally, effective
ence’s perception that the respondent is credible.
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May-June 2016  MILITARY REVIEW