| dc.description.abstract | Strategic communication is wage. This master thesis discuss the term from the widest definitions down to NATOs strategic communication in Afghanistan. The essence of strategic communication is to convince a designated population to place their confidence in a politically approved narrative. Strategic communication is a top-down process, where the narrative is communicated in every possible way, through kinetic and none kinetic means. “In military operations, actions speak as loudly, if not louder, than words” (NATO, 2010). Is the way NATO plans and performs strategic communication really supporting the alliance desired end state in Afghanistan? This thesis is a literature study of external communication in NATO. Afghanistan is utilized as a case study. The thesis employ communication theory to analyze the way NATO strategic communication is conducted in the ISAF operation. The theoretical focal point is Jürgen Habermas theory of communicative action. The analysis is done according to a hermeneutic circle method. First an analysis of NATO communication, when a synthesis of the alliance presence in Afghanistan, and in the end a consequence analysis. This thesis argue that the NATO long term goal, a self sustained Afghanistan that represents no threat to the NATO members, best can be achieved through communicative social action - dialogue. Attempting to sell inn NATOs narrative in Afghanistan is a strategic social action, and will according to the theory be an obstacle for long term relation building, trust and coherent inner motivation for supporting the NATO effort in Afghanistan. An open and curios approach to communication will be far more beneficial, than the current strategic approach. If NATO utilizes its resources in collaboration with central and local afghan leaders, the support for and success of the ISAF operation is far more likely. Relation building and respect for afghan culture and tradition is a key to mutual understanding, and a prerequisite for dialogue. A possible arena for this dialogue is the traditional afghan jirga gatherings. Generative dialogue with NATO and among afghan leaders, may conceive the feeling that the afghan people are masters of their own destiny. The worst case scenario of continued strategic action is an afghan people with a sense of being occupied and feed charity. | en_US |
